Sustainability

We are committed to delivering on our net zero targets, leading the way through welfare and sustainability programmes.

Our ambition is to offer carbon neutral beef processing by 2025 and carbon neutral beef farming at our own farm, Brongain, by 2030. We are delivering this through sustainable farming, enhancing biodiversity, minimising waste through circular economy practices and packaging solutions.

Our Commitment is to deliver NET ZERO

Our Approach

Our approach to sustainability is focussed on four key projects: Sustainable Farming, Protecting Nature, Minimising Waste and our Flagship Beef project; which offers a carbon footprint to farmers. To find out more, click through the areas below.

Sustainable Beef Production

Developing a sustainable system of beef production is one of our priorities, and this is why we have established Brongain Farm as a centre of excellence. Partnering with industry experts, the team at Brongain are looking at ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in beef farming.

Trials are ongoing at the farm and we are always open to sharing the findings of our research, hosting discussion groups, Young Farmers Clubs and schools throughout the year.

Hear more from Rowan Pickstock, Farm Manager at Brongain Farms.

Biodiversity

We are planting boundaries and unproductive corners with native trees to increase biodiversity and provide shade for cattle whilst maintaining all productive viable land for beef production. By integrating trees into hedges we are providing perches for birds of prey. By planting willow along the watercourse, we are improving soil infiltration, strengthening soil structure and preventing land erosion.

Soil Health

We soil sample 20% of our fields annually to assess nutrients, organic matter and carbon stocks. We’ll be collecting this data for five years to build a picture of the carbon capture and how our management can improve this. So far we have increased soil carbon stocks by two tonnes/ha.

Converting Waste into Heat

Our Telford facility uses an anaerobic digester, to convert waste into heat to warm the water on site, while producing 80% of the sites electricity needs. The digestate is nutrient-rich and used as fertiliser on local farms.

Water Efficiency

Through rainwater harvesting, we save 43,054,000 litres of water per year, that’s enough to fill 17 Olympic sized swimming pools.

Sustainable Packaging

We are working towards our goal of achieving packaging solutions which are 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable. Our cardboard is FSC certified and to minimise plastics, we are working with supply partners to pack into renewable solutions such as returnable crates and thinner films.

Did you know?

The carbon footprint of British beef is almost half of the global average.

2012

Statistics from 2012 estimate the footprint to be 23.4kg of CO2e. There has been no updated data since to showcase the strides our industry has taken to become more sustainable.

2040

Agriculture has an ambitious goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

With your help, we have the opportunity to update this industry figure and showcase the environmental credentials of British dairy and beef farming. Carbon footprinting is a great way to provide evidence for this, assessing our current position and highlighting areas we can improve on. ​

Pickstock, in partnership with Promar International and McDonald’s, are running carbon footprinting for 250 English suppliers, using Defra resilience funding.

Carbon footprinting is just one tool in the box. Practical steps that we can take to progress towards agriculture’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2040 are through the use of genetics, nutrient management, sustainable feed, improved grassland management and animal health. A decreased carbon footprint also directly links to farm productivity and profitability, as we are seeing at Brongain Farm.

1. Register

You will be given a form to consent for us to use your SBI number, slaughter numbers and contact your nutritionist if you wish – we do the work for you to shorten the time of your audit.

2. Audit

​The project will include an hour long carbon audit using Agrecalc.

3. Provide

All you will need to provide is cropping areas and yields (including grassland); fertiliser usage, purchased feed; animal numbers; bedding and fuel.

4. Receive

Receive a report highlighting your strengths and suggestions for improvement. ​ £100 compensation for your time.

Our Pathway to Net Zero

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