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Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 1
ANALYZING SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS FACTORS FOR A PET FOOD MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY IN THE UK: A PATH TO CARBON NEUTRALITY by [RIAZAHAMED JAGEER HUSSAIN]
Module: Green Supply Chain Management
Student ID: 77426826
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 2
Analyzing SCOPE 3 Emissions Factors for a Pet Food Manufacturing Industry in the UK: A Path
to Carbon Neutrality
Introduction
Carbon neutrality refers to the state of achieving net zero emission of carbon by balancing the amount of carbon dioxide that’s released into the atmosphere with the amount of carbon dioxide that’s removed from it (Sphera’s Editorial Team, 2020). This is a vital goal for environmental sustainability because it can help in mitigating climate change effects/impacts as well as reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The pet food manufacturing industry is one of the sectors that can contribute to this goal through reducing its SCOPE 3 emissions, which are the indirect emissions that do occur along its
value chain like from the production and transportation of raw materials, packaging as well as distribution (UNEP, 2019). SCOPE 3 emissions can account for up to 95% of the total carbon footprint of the pet food industry, and therefore it represent a significant opportunity for both improvement and innovation. The aim of this paper is to analyze the SCOPE 3 emissions factors for a pet food manufacturing industry in the UK and also to propose strategies and solutions for achieving carbon neutrality.
Overview of SCOPE 3 Emissions
SCOPE 3 emissions can be defined as indirect emissions that do occur in the value chain of an organization like from raw material’s production and transportation, packaging and
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 3
distribution (National Grid, 2023). These emissions aren’t owned or controlled by the organization. They are influenced by its activities, products, or services. SCOPE 3 emissions can be significant for the pet food manufacturing industry because they do include the emissions from the farming, processing and transport of animal and plant ingredients, the packaging materials, the retail and consumer stages as well as the disposal of waste (Duynie Ingredients, 2023).
SCOPE 3 emissions are different from the emissions of SCOPE 1 and SCOPE 2, which are the direct and indirect emissions from the sources that an organization controls/own, like from the combustion of fuels in its facilities or vehicles (SCOPE 1), or from the generation of purchased electricity, steam and cooling (SCOPE 2) (Bernoville, 2022). By measuring and reducing the emissions of SCOPE 3, then the pet food manufacturing industry can improve its environmental performance and also contribute to the goal of carbon neutrality.
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Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 4
Current State of the Pet Food Manufacturing Industry in the UK
The pet food manufacturing industry in the UK is one of the sectors that has a significant carbon footprint. This is because it do relies on the production and processing of animal and plant ingredients, packaging materials as well as distribution services (the Guardian, 2009). The University of Edinburgh did a study and found that the industry uses agricultural land of around 49 million hectares to make dry food for both cats and dogs annually, and it do emits more than 106 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (The University of Edinburgh, 2020). However, the industry is also taking steps of reducing its SCOPE 3 emissions, which are the indirect emissions that do occur along its value chain. Some of the recent advancements/initiatives by contemporary pet food companies in the UK to reduce their SCOPE 3 emissions include:
1.
Increasing the use of sustainable seafood that’s certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
2.
Adopting measurement and reporting protocols for SCOPE 3 emissions that are consistent in collaboration with WRAP and Deloitte.
3.
Exploring alternative sources of protein like insects and plants for mitigating environmental impacts.
4.
Engaging with suppliers and customers to enhance strategies of procurement, energy efficiency as well as waste management using platforms like Manufacture 2030 and Nutritics.
5.
Investing in renewable energy sources for instance, solar panels and biogas to minimize the reliance on fossil fuels.
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 5
Five Factors Affecting SCOPE 3 Emissions
a. Type and Source of Ingredients
The environmental impact of pet food is significantly influenced by the type and source of ingredients. For instance, pet food that is wet has a higher environmental footprint than dry food due to increased energy and water requirements, along with elevated cost of packaging and refrigeration (Christa Lesté-Lasserre, 2022). Ingredients which are animal-based like meat and dairy do contribute more to greenhouse gas emissions, land use as well as water consumption compared to plant-based alternatives like cereals and vegetables (Nations, n.d.). Adopting sustainable ingredient sourcing practices for instance, utilizing by-products from the human food
chain, alternative protein sources as well as sustainable seafood, can notably reduce SCOPE 3 emissions while promoting environmental and social outcomes that are positive.
Some academic sources that do support these practices include a scoping review by Samuel Eric Kamgang et al. (2023) on responsible sourcing in the food industry. There is also a report by FEDIAF (2020) that outlines sustainable protein sourcing in the pet food industry. These practices do align with leading pet food companies in the UK like Nature’s Menu and Butcher’s Pet Care Limited. These companies have implemented sustainable ingredient sourcing in a successfully way and they have also witnessed substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, land use as well as water consumption.
b. Packaging and Labeling
Packaging and labeling do play a role that’s is significant in the environmental impact of pet food supply chains especially in terms of SCOPE 3 emissions. Packaging materials choices and transportation methods do directly influences factors like greenhouse gas emissions, energy
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 6
use, waste generation as well as resource depletion (Molina-Besch, Wikström and Williams, 2018). Eco-friendly packaging and labeling can mitigate SCOPE 3 emissions by adopting sustainable practices, including:
1.
Choosing easily recyclable paper bags over polywoven bags for a lower carbon footprint (Sprinkle, 2022).
2.
Utilizing ingredients that are insect-based or plant-based for reducing environmental impact and minimize packaging needs.
3.
Opting for certified seafood that’s approved by the Marine Stewardship Council and thus ensuring responsible sourcing as well as lower environmental impact.
4.
Implementing consistent protocols that’s developed by WRAP and Deloitte for SCOPE 3 emissions measurement and reporting to address hotspots of supply chain.
5.
Incorporating sources of renewable energy like solar panels and biogas to power operations thus reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
In the UK, a pet food companies like Harrington’s Pet Food has embraced sustainable practices. It has reduced its use of plastics and cardboard in its packaging, and it offers natural and biodegradable cat litter (Harringtons, 2022). These eco-friendly packaging and labelling practices do contribute to the broader goal of carbon neutrality in the pet food manufacturing industry, thus demonstrating the positive outcomes that can be achieved through sustainable initiatives.
c. Distribution and Retail
The carbon footprint of pet food distribution processes is influenced by transportation and
storage factors. Sustainable distribution practices, as can be seen in contemporary UK pet food
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companies, are very instrumental in reducing this footprint (Neufeld, 2020). Harrington’s Pet Food uses cardboard boxes that have been recycled and biodegradable packaging for its products
and this reduces waste and environmental impact (Food, n.d.). Nature’s Menu delivers its pet food using refrigerated vans that do run on biodiesel and this lowers emissions of greenhouse gas
and fuel consumption (Food, n.d.). These initiatives do contribute to decreased carbon emissions and air pollution that’s associated with the transportation of pet food products.
Efficient distribution is key in minimizing SCOPE 3 emissions within the pet food supply
chain. This involves such strategies as reducing transportation distances, optimizing vehicle routes as well as utilizing low-carbon or renewable fuels. Harrington’s Pet Food and Nature’s Menu do serve as examples of UK-based pet food manufacturers that have adopted sustainable distribution practices and also have demonstrated the tangible impact of reducing the overall carbon footprint in the pet food industry. d. Consumer Behavior:
Consumer behavior influences the carbon footprint of pet food products significantly with choices in pet food diets impacting emissions of greenhouse gas. For instance, pet food diets that are based on meat do contribute substantially to carbon emissions. Studies, such as Okin (2017) do highlight the environmental impact of meat-based diets and they indicate the possibility for consumer choices to reduce carbon emissions by opting for sustainable alternatives like plant-based, insect-based, or even cultured meat pet food. An academic source that do support responsible consumer behavior is that same Okin (2017) and it do underscore the energy efficiency of plant-based protein production and also the reduction of pet food waste to minimize environmental impact.
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 8
Pet food companies, like Harrington’s Pet Food and Nature’s Menu, have taken initiatives of educating consumers about the environmental impact of their products. Harrington’s Pet Food, using recycled cardboard boxes and biodegradable packaging does emphasize waste reduction and environmental protection on its website. Nature’s Menu, using refrigerated vans that do run on bio-diesel do highlights lower greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption on its website (Natures Menu, n.d.). Leading UK pet food companies’ data, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) does show an increasing trend in natural and organic pet food sales thus indicating changing consumer behavior with a focus on the options that do have lower environmental impact (Wall, 2022). For example, the shift from conventional to natural or organic pet food, as demonstrated by the Annual Report of PFMA 2022, could collectively lead to significant reductions of carbon emission if embraced/followed by a portion of UK pet owners
(the Guardian, 2021).
e. Engagement and Collaboration:
Assessing the impact of engagement and collaboration in pet food manufacturing does involve working with stakeholders like suppliers, customers, employees, regulators as well as communities to enhance efficiency, quality, innovation, and sustainability. Examples of effective engagement do include Nature’s Menu partnering with organizations like The Ethical Company Organisation and The Good Shopping Guide to source ethical and natural ingredients, and Harrington’s Pet Food achieving zero waste to landfill through collaboration with suppliers and also customers (Cosgrove, 2022).
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 9
Proper engagement and collaboration do contribute to the reduction of SCOPE 3 emissions by improving ingredient sourcing, energy efficiency as well as overall sustainability practices in the pet food manufacturing process. Data from leading UK pet food companies does reveal positive impacts, with Nature’s Menu reducing its carbon footprint by 15% since 2018 and
Harrington’s Pet Food achieving carbon neutrality in 2021 (the Guardian, 2021). These examples
do highlight how engagement and collaboration support sustainability goals and also help mitigate climate change.
Conclusion
In summary, addressing SCOPE 3 emissions is key for achieving carbon neutrality in the pet food manufacturing industry which constituting up to 95% of the sector's total carbon footprint. The analysis has examined key factors influencing SCOPE 3 emissions which do include ingredients, packaging, distribution, consumer behavior as well as engagement. Academic sources, contemporary companies, and UK pet food manufacturers' data do support the imperative of reducing SCOPE 3 emissions. The top 20 manufacturers listed in the Pet Keen report, wield significant influence over the industry's sustainability.
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Through adopting sustainable practices like alternative ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, efficient distribution, consumer education as well as collaboration then these manufacturers can propel the sector toward carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability.
Analyzing Scope 3 Emissions Factors 11
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Christa Lesté-Lasserre (2022). Wet pet food has seven times the carbon emissions of dry food
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