In March 2021 we set a company ambition as Morrisons to source from farms collectively achieving net zero and supplying our manufacturing division (i.e. Woodheads, Chippindale Foods and WM Growers Ltd). Within this we stated a desire to have customers come with us on the journey by buying into products which had reached a net zero status on farms and within our supply chain.
This ambition started a substantial programme of activity (which followed pilot work in 2020), working with over 40 project farmers round the country on their own paths to net zero.
Within the egg sector, the highest contributor to emissions is through the feed the hen receives and the most significant element of the diet footprint comes from using soya, due to its high deforestation / land use change risk. Removing soy from the diet therefore helps reduce the emissions.
Wanting to be sure that the work we are doing with industry experts was sufficient to make a claim to the consumer, we engaged University of Cambridge in March 2022 to verify the work done by Eggbase and to support a claim for a carbon neutral egg. This work concluded and is published online.
This was also supported by a full cradle to grave verification from the British Standards Institute in which the British Standards Institute Carbon Neutral Kite Mark was awarded in 2023 to the Better for Our Planet Egg product.
The result of our work with the Chippindales producers, means that the Better for Our Planet Eggs emit 1.13 tonnes of carbon per 1kg of egg.
In the last year, we have been working hard to ensure we have this product available on shelf throughout the year, and have added a second farm to our net zero pool to ensure the flock cycle does not impact supply.
The above change in scope and methodology has resulted in a year on year comparison that is not like for like and therefore can’t be compared directly to previous years.
At Chippindales we have already reduced our carbon footprint significantly, both on farms and in our operations since the start of this project. The emissions reduction programme has so far consisted of the following:
- Removing soy from the laying hens' diet
- Development and maintenance of woodland, hedgerows, grass, and wildflower meadows to capture and store carbon
- Keeping hen production efficiency on track through good health and welfare
- Installing solar panels on the roofs of our operations
To ensure complete carbon neutrality 242 tonnes of Gold Standard carbon offsets have been purchased and retired in the climate partners impact registry (retirement date 31/10/23) to cover 100% of the remaining carbon. The carbon offsets have contributed towards the Renewable Energy Power Project by DDWL.
We are continuing the work with all of our egg producers as part of our net zero agriculture programme. This includes sharing best practice and knowledge exchanges amongst our producer group, working with commercial partners on key projects to deliver commercialised sustainable feed options, and incentivising best practice on farm including efficiency programs and innovation with manure management.
In our own operations, we are committing to reducing scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030, and to have net zero emissions in scope 1 and scope 2 by 2035.
The responsibility of the provision and storage of data with reference to this carbon footprints study is the responsibility of the Manufacturing Sustainability Director. Any such data will be stored for a minimum of 6 years.
Signed:
Date: 30.10.24
Sophie Throup - Technical and Sustainability Director, Myton Food Group for Morrisons