Off the back of hitting a major milestone in its 2025 carbon reduction journey, leading UK meals provider, apetito, has taken its climate ambition to the next level, unveiling a bold and enhanced roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
Backed by updated independent validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), apetito’s new, near and long-term climate commitments set a powerful benchmark for the food industry. Central to its plan is alignment with the SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard, providing a rigorous, science-backed framework for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and delivering lasting environmental impact.
This roadmap includes apetito’s pro-active embrace of the SBTi’s latest Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) guidance — a vital move for land-intensive sectors. This framework separates emissions into two critical areas: FLAG, which focuses on land use, deforestation, and farming practices, and Energy and Industry, which targets fossil fuel and industrial emissions.
Based on a 2020 base year, apetito has committed that by 2030 it will:
- Cut absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% and scope 3 emissions by 51.6% per tonne of product sold
- Reduce absolute scope 3 FLAG emissions by 30.3%
- Looking further ahead, apetito’s 2040 net-zero ambition means:
- Reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and scope 3 emissions per tonne of sold product by 97%
- Driving down absolute scope 3 FLAG emissions by 72%
And it doesn’t stop there. In a decisive step toward protecting global forests, apetito has pledged no deforestation across its primary deforestation-linked commodities by the end of 2025 — underlining its dedication to sustainable sourcing and land stewardship.
Lee Sheppard, Group Sustainability Director at apetito, says accountability is key:
“For us, achieving net zero isn’t about greenwashing or empty promises — it’s about action. Without SBTi validation, a net-zero target lacks credibility. Independent verification ensures our goals are aligned with science and truly drive the systemic change our planet needs.
“We know these targets are tough – especially with the new FLAG requirements – but we’ve already made strong progress, delivering a 4.6% absolute carbon reduction since 2020. We’re continuing to decarbonise in the right way, working closely across our supply chain to make a real, measurable difference.”
As apetito moves confidently toward its 2040 goal, it sets a clear example for how the food sector can lead the fight against climate change — not just with promises, but with action backed by science.
