Pladis Moves Forward With Sustainability Through SBTi Target
<p>A manufacturer behind household brands including McVitie's, Ülker and GODIVA has replaced separate regional sustainability programmes with a single global climate strategy backed by science-based targets. The move signals a shift from piecemeal commitments to a unified framework designed to reduce emissions across farming, production and packaging.</p><p>pladis, the snacking group owned by Yıldız Holding, confirmed in early 2025 that its new approach, branded Happy People, Happy Planet, consolidates climate action under one model. The strategy follows validation from the Science Based Targets initiative and responds to mounting pressure on food manufacturers to show measurable progress on emissions linked to ingredients and supply chains.</p><p>For UK businesses tracking how large food producers handle sustainability compliance, the pladis framework offers a case study in coordinating targets across multiple geographies. It also illustrates the practical challenges of cutting carbon when most emissions sit outside factory gates, embedded in agricultural supply chains rather than operational energy use.</p><h2>How pladis built its climate framework</h2><p>The company first committed to SBTi in December 2023. It worked with external advisers to map emissions across UK and Turkish operations, identifying where carbon reductions would deliver the greatest impact. The result was a set of near-term targets tied to a 42 per cent cut in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030, measured against a 2021 baseline.</p><p>pladis anchored its strategy in three priority areas. First, ingredient sourcing, recognising that raw materials account for the largest share of product-related emissions. Second, plastic packaging, with a focus on recyclability and material reduction. Third, decarbonisation across manufacturing sites and logistics.</p><p>The new framework replaced older targets that were due to expire at the end of 2025. According to the company's sustainability update, this consolidation was designed to avoid gaps in accountability and align regional programmes under consistent metrics.</p><p>Notably, pladis used a double materiality assessment aligned with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. This means the strategy addresses both financial risk to the business and broader environmental impact. It also positions the company to meet emerging disclosure requirements under CSRD, which will apply to large EU-operating firms from 2024 onwards.</p><p>The Happy People, Happy Planet branding reflects an attempt to communicate sustainability goals beyond technical audiences. However, Suzanne Westlake, the company's sustainability leader, clarified that the label represents a strategic framework rather than a marketing slogan. The emphasis, she said, is on execution and resilience rather than external messaging.</p><h2>Emissions profile and carbon mapping</h2><p>Earlier carbon mapping revealed that approximately 70 per cent of pladis emissions are product-related. Within that category, ingredients account for 85 per cent of the total. This means the majority of the company's climate footprint sits in agricultural supply chains, not in baking ovens or distribution networks.</p><p>Consequently, progress on emissions depends heavily on how the business sources wheat, cocoa, palm oil and other raw materials. Energy efficiency improvements in factories will contribute, but they cannot deliver the scale of reductions needed to meet SBTi-validated targets without parallel action on agriculture.</p><p>The company reported cutting 21,000 tonnes of carbon from operations in 2024. While this figure reflects progress on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, it represents a small fraction of the overall footprint when Scope 3 supply chain emissions are included. Therefore, the next phase of the strategy will need to address sourcing, farming practices and supplier engagement more directly.</p><p>pladis has committed to reaching net zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway. Meeting that goal will require verified reductions across all three scopes, plus transparent reporting on residual emissions that may require offsetting or removal solutions later in the timeline.</p><h2>Regenerative agriculture and farmer training programmes</h2><p>The company trained nearly 1,700 farmers in regenerative agriculture during 2024, focused primarily on cocoa growers in Côte d'Ivoire. Regenerative agriculture refers to farming practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity and sequester carbon. Examples include reduced tillage, cover cropping and agroforestry.</p><p>Westlake described the programme as central to supply security. For pladis, regenerative agriculture represents more than a sustainability concept. It addresses the future resilience of ingredients behind products people know and depend on. In practice, this means working directly with farmers to adopt techniques that reduce synthetic inputs, improve yields and lower emissions per tonne of crop.</p><p>Training programmes alone do not guarantee emissions reductions. Success depends on whether farmers can implement new practices affordably, whether certification systems track results accurately, and whether buyers commit to long-term contracts that justify the investment. pladis has not yet published detailed data on soil carbon changes or yield impacts, so the long-term effectiveness of the initiative remains to be demonstrated.</p><p>Nevertheless, the focus on cocoa sourcing reflects wider industry attention on deforestation and agricultural emissions. European regulations, including the EU Deforestation Regulation, now require companies to prove that commodities such as cocoa are not linked to forest loss. Consequently, regenerative agriculture programmes can serve both climate and compliance objectives simultaneously.</p><h2>Plastic packaging and recyclability targets</h2><p>pladis reported that 90 per cent of its global plastic packaging is now recycle-ready. This term typically means packaging can be processed through existing municipal recycling infrastructure, though actual recycling rates depend on local collection systems and consumer behaviour.</p><p>Making packaging recycle-ready involves removing mixed materials, switching to mono-material films and eliminating components such as metallised layers that interfere with sorting. For a snack manufacturer, this often means redesigning wrappers for biscuits, chocolates and cakes to meet recyclability standards set by schemes such as OPRL in the UK or equivalent systems in other markets.</p><p>Recyclability does not eliminate plastic use. It reduces waste sent to landfill or incineration, but it does not address the carbon footprint of virgin plastic production. Some brands are exploring bio-based or recycled-content plastics, though cost and performance challenges remain significant, particularly for food contact applications.</p><p>pladis has not disclosed specific targets for reducing total plastic tonnage or increasing recycled content. The current focus appears to be on improving end-of-life outcomes rather than eliminating plastic altogether. This aligns with broader industry trends, where recyclability is often prioritised over material reduction due to technical and cost constraints.</p><h2>Critical details for UK manufacturers and suppliers</h2><ul><li>pladis committed to the Science Based Targets initiative in December 2023 and has set a near-term target to cut Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.</li><li>The company's carbon footprint is dominated by product-related emissions, with ingredients accounting for 85 per cent of product emissions and around 70 per cent of total emissions overall.</li><li>In 2024, pladis reduced operational carbon by 21,000 tonnes, trained 1,700 farmers in regenerative agriculture and achieved 90 per cent recycle-ready status for global plastic packaging.</li><li>The Happy People, Happy Planet framework consolidates previous regional programmes and uses a double materiality assessment aligned with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.</li><li>The company has committed to net zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway, requiring verified emissions reductions across Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories.</li></ul><h2>What this means for food manufacturers and their supply chains</h2><p>The pladis approach illustrates a broader trend among food manufacturers. Companies are moving from broad sustainability statements to science-based frameworks that require third-party validation and transparent reporting. This shift affects suppliers, procurement teams and compliance managers across the sector.</p><p>For businesses supplying large food manufacturers, the implications are practical. Buyers increasingly expect carbon data from suppliers, particularly for high-emission categories such as agricultural raw materials. Therefore, smaller firms in the supply chain may need to invest in carbon measurement, sustainability certifications or regenerative farming programmes to retain contracts.</p><p>Public sector suppliers also face related pressure. Procurement Policy Note 06/21 requires central government suppliers to publish carbon reduction plans and commit to net zero by 2050. While PPN 06/21 applies to public contracts, the same expectations are spreading into private sector procurement. Consequently, suppliers to large food brands should anticipate similar requirements in tender documents and supplier audits.</p><p>The focus on Scope 3 emissions adds complexity. Most emissions in a food manufacturer's footprint are Scope 3, meaning they occur in the supply chain rather than in owned facilities. Reducing these emissions requires collaboration between buyers and suppliers, including data sharing, joint investment in emissions reduction projects and long-term contractual commitments that justify change.</p><p>For packaging suppliers, the shift to recycle-ready materials creates both opportunity and risk. Companies that can deliver mono-material films, recyclable laminates or alternative substrates may gain business. However, suppliers relying on traditional multi-layer structures may face pressure to reformulate or risk losing contracts as recyclability becomes a standard procurement criterion.</p><p>Finally, the emphasis on regenerative agriculture signals a strategic priority for ingredient buyers. Businesses that source wheat, cocoa, palm oil or dairy should expect growing scrutiny of farming practices, deforestation risk and soil health. Suppliers able to demonstrate verified regenerative outcomes or third-party certification may find preferential access to contracts, while those without traceability systems may face exclusion.</p><h2>Practical steps for businesses reviewing their own sustainability plans</h2><p>Companies evaluating their own climate strategies can draw several lessons from the pladis framework. First, consolidating targets under a single science-based model simplifies reporting and strengthens credibility. Multiple regional or product-specific targets often create confusion and make progress harder to track.</p><p>Second, focusing on materiality ensures resources go where emissions are highest. For most food manufacturers, this means prioritising Scope 3 supply chain emissions over operational efficiency alone. Carbon mapping helps identify these hotspots and informs where to concentrate effort.</p><p>Third, aligning sustainability strategy with emerging regulations reduces future risk. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the EU Deforestation Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes in the UK all create compliance obligations that intersect with climate strategy. Therefore, integrating regulatory requirements into sustainability planning avoids duplication and missed deadlines.</p><p>Fourth, engaging suppliers early improves outcomes. Supply chain emissions cannot be reduced without supplier participation, so procurement teams need to build capacity, share data and co-invest in reduction projects. SBS supports businesses through <a href="https://sbs.eco/procurement/">sustainable procurement programmes</a> that help embed carbon criteria into supplier onboarding and contract management.</p><p>Finally, transparency matters. Publishing verified data, disclosing targets and reporting progress builds trust with customers, investors and regulators. SBTi validation provides external credibility, but only if targets are met and reported consistently. Businesses considering SBTi commitment should ensure they have the internal systems to track emissions accurately and report progress annually.</p><p>We also support UK businesses preparing for public sector tenders through <a href="https://sbs.eco/net-zero-program/">our net zero programme</a>, which includes carbon footprinting, reduction planning and PPN 06/21 compliance support. For companies needing broader sustainability assurance, our <a href="https://sbs.eco/compliance/">compliance services</a> cover ESG reporting, materiality assessments and regulatory alignment.</p><h2>Where to find additional guidance and standards</h2><p>Businesses exploring science-based targets should start with the <a href="https://sciencebasedtargets.org/">Science Based Targets initiative website</a>, which provides sector-specific guidance, validation criteria and case studies. The SBTi framework is widely recognised and aligns with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals.</p><p>For carbon footprinting and Scope 3 emissions, the <a href="https://ghgprotocol.org/">Greenhouse Gas Protocol</a> sets the global standard. Its Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard offers detailed guidance on measuring supply chain emissions, including agriculture, logistics and packaging.</p><p>UK businesses affected by public procurement requirements should review <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0621-taking-account-of-carbon-reduction-plans-in-the-procurement-of-major-government-contracts">Procurement Policy Note 06/21</a> on the gov.uk website. This sets out carbon reduction plan requirements for central government suppliers and provides a template for compliance.</p><p>Companies working on packaging recyclability can consult <a href="https://www.oprl.org.uk/">the On-Pack Recycling Label scheme</a>, which offers guidance on labelling and design for recyclability in the UK market. OPRL standards align with industry best practice and help ensure packaging meets consumer-facing recycling claims.</p><p>Finally, businesses sourcing agricultural commodities should monitor the <a href="https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation_en">EU Deforestation Regulation</a>, which enters into force in 2024 and requires due diligence on products linked to deforestation risk. Compliance will require traceability systems and supplier engagement across cocoa, palm oil, soy and other high-risk commodities.</p>
