Member Article

BBF continues sustainability drive with Company Shop Group support

BBF Limited, the ambient cake and dessert manufacturer, has continued its sustainability drive, collaborating with Company Shop Group to redistribute 55 tonnes of surplus food between January and December 2020. BBF’s surplus food generated more than 140,000 meals, equating to seven skips worth of waste saved, which is equivalent to taking 96 cars off the road. The manufacturer is committed to continuously reducing this year-on-year as food waste that is disposed to landfill generates methane, a greenhouse gas far more powerful than carbon dioxide.

“We are proud to work closely with the team at BBF, supporting it to fulfil its ambitious food waste reduction targets. By redistributing its surplus stock through Company Shop Group, BBF closely follows the food waste hierarchy, whilst simultaneously generating positive environmental benefits and delivering social good. The brilliant work of BBF and the great progress it has made really shows the power of surplus and what can be achieved, which is corporate surplus responsibility at its best,” said Sue Patterson, step change consultant at Company Shop Group.

Company Shop Group is the UK’s leading redistributor of food and household surplus products. The organisation is at the forefront of the sustainability agenda and is focused on changing mindsets, while educating businesses on the value of surplus stock.

BBF was introduced to Company Shop Group by Marks & Spencer through the Plan A initiative and developed relationships across all of its bakeries to support the scheme. The baker also works with Company Shop Group to supply surplus products to its own staff shop at its Hull facility, offering employees access to the surplus products. “To see the positive impact our collaboration with Company Shop Group has had on the environment is incredible and is a great achievement that the team is proud of,” comments Jonathan Lill, CEO, BBF Limited. “Working to eliminate food waste will only have a positive impact on the environment, as it has the same effect as taking multiple cars off the roads.”

The ambient cake and dessert manufacturer, which produces more than 600 million cakes annually for retailers across the UK, Europe and Australia, has committed to reducing its footprint on the environment by implementing various initiatives across all business operations.

Since 2017, BBF has been achieving its zero waste to landfill commitment, while also reducing electricity and gas usage by 8.5% and 4.5% respectively. In addition, the manufacturer has made various investments into infrastructure to reduce food waste significantly, is a member of WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) and is also committed to rolling out comprehensive training to educate and support employees on reducing food waste. As part of its partnership with WRAP, BBF has already surpassed its pledge to reduce food waste by 15% within the first year of the programme. “We have been working with Company Shop Group for three years now and have seen first-hand the difference the organisation is making, not only for the greater good of the planet, but in supporting communities across the UK,” concludes Jonathan.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jessica Louise Simm .