In 2019, the UK was the first major economy to pass net zero emissions into law. In light of the new targets, FDF published a decarbonisation of heat report in 2020, strengthened our commitments under Ambition 2025 and as a signatory to Courtauld 2025, announced a Net Zero by 2040 Ambition in April 2021 and in November 2021, published a handbook for Net Zero to the sector.
The launch of our handbook at COP26 in Glasgow marks a key milestone in FDF’s work supporting members in their decarbonisation journey. Looking ahead, under the Food and Drink Sector Council we have now established a Net Zero Working Group to take forward the council members roadmaps to agree and align on common challenges we face across the supply chain. This is still at early stages but as we will update this page with plans, progress and next steps in due course.
Resources
Net Zero Handbook
Launched at COP26, this handbook guides manufacturers on actions to reduce the embodied carbon emissions of their products towards Net Zero
Podcast: FDF at COP26
FDF's Head of Climate Change & Energy Policy, Emma Piercy reviews her time at nature day at COP26.
Podcast: Spotlight on Alara
FDF's Head of Climate Change & Energy Policy, Emma Piercy chats with Alex Smith Managing Director of Alara Wholefoods - expert muesli maker and a leader in sustainability.
Podcast: Sustainability - Skills and training for Net Zero
Exploring the skills and training requirements for companies in the 'green transition' to Net Zero and the role of Universities in helping the food and drink sector decarbonise.
Updates & milestones
Business Climate Hub Net Zero Census
Members are invited to complete the Business Climate Hub Net Zero Census. The Census is the largest initiative of its kind in the UK and will establish the proportion of UK businesses with net zero targets, measuring emissions, and actions taken to achieve these targets.It will also provide a regional, sector and business size breakdown of the data, providing unparalleled insights to policy makers, investors and business leaders into the nation’s net zero journey. The coalition of partners also hope that the campaign and subsequent report will inspire business action on net zero.
Final stakeholder clinics for IETF £185m competition – 9th and 16th April
Phase 3 three of the current IETF funding round is open until Friday 19th April. The competition will provide grant funding towards the costs of feasibility and engineering studies, energy efficiency deployment projects and deep decarbonisation deployment projects. To find out more, view the applicant guidance and make an application for funding, please visit the competition page.
If you have any questions on your application, you can speak to Government colleagues directly via one of the stakeholder clinics. These are run on a weekly basis, with the final ones taking place on 9th and 16th April. To attend, please visit the registration site.
IETF – application support, clinics and Manchester event 21 March
Businesses can bid for a share of up to £185 million in grant funding, with an application deadline of Friday 19th April 2024. To view the guidance and make an application for funding, please visit the competition page. The next stakeholder clinics are taking place on 20 February 2024 and 5 March 2024. To register for these or subsequent ones, please visit the registration site.
To register for the Technology Marketplace for videos showcasing potential technologies, please visit the registration site. A Technology Showcase event will also be held in Manchester on 21 March to showcase some of the projects IETF is funding and what’s available in Phase 3. To attend the Technology Showcase, please visit the registration site
Innovate UK and DESNZ will be presenting at the next Environmental Sustainability Committee meeting on 27th February.
Scope 3 Emission Accounting Update
WRAP has recently published an additional guidance document under Scope 3 GHG Measurement and Reporting Protocols for Food and Drink | WRAP. The additional detailed guidance ‘Emission Factor Inclusion and Adjustment Guidance’ aims to improve alignment of approaches to selecting and adjusting emission factors when compiling scope 3 inventories.
Transport Industrial Commercial Refrigeration webinar – 7th November
The TICR (Transport Industrial Commercial Refrigeration) Project is hosting a free webinar on 7 November that will explore net zero opportunities in the cold store sector. Join this online event to discuss the findings from recent independent site investigations and look at the policy and technology options that could support energy reduction and sustainable futures. Book your place here.
Events and webinars
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News
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Past webinars
A wealth of content provided by both our Professional Affiliates and our dedicated in-house teams. From current legislative updates to the future of the industry, we’re certain there is something for all those working in food and drink today.
Report: Decarbonisation of heat
Launched in June 2020, this report outlines how carbon emissions from heat generation in food and drink Manufacturing can be reduced to Net Zero.
Related topics
Climate change agreements
Climate Change Agreements agreed with the Environment Agency provide CCL tax discounts in return for reducing energy use and CO2 emissions.
Natural capital
Natural capital represents nature's physical and biological resources that the UK food and drink industry both relies on and impacts.