What goes into us being 100% sustainably sourced by 2025?

Supply chain efficiency is key to creating a more sustainable economy as it means goods are transported in a more streamlined manner, with fewer emissions and waste produced.

An efficient supply chain rests on responsible sourcing, which is why at Meadow, we’ve set ourselves the ambitious target of being 100% sustainably sourced by 2025.

But what does it mean to be entirely responsibly sourced?

In this blog we’ll explore what sustainable sourcing is, along with the steps that we’re taking to ensure that we can meet this target and be 100% certified responsibly sourced ingredients by 2025.

What is sustainable sourcing?

When a food company is sustainably sourced, it means that they are committed to integrating social, ethical and environmental performance factors into the process of sourcing raw ingredients.

Essentially, this involves ensuring that the production and distribution of their products do not create harmful levels of carbon output and the welfare of individuals involved in the production process is guaranteed.

Sustainable sourcing also means considering the full lifecycle of the product, from production to disposal, and taking steps to minimise waste and reduce environmental impacts at each stage.

Responsible sourcing also involves working with local farmers and suppliers to assist them in using sustainable farming practices.

This can be achieved in conjunction with industry certifications such as the Red Tractor certification, which sets standards for the production of food and drink in the UK, including animal welfare, food safety, and environmental protection.

Our roadmap towards sustainable sourcing by 2025

2023

We’re on track to make significant progress in our path towards 100% responsible sourcing and as such we’re aiming to meet a number of key targets.

When it comes to reducing carbon emissions from the supply chain, our aim is to work with our producers to measure and minimise Scope 3 emissions, as part of our annual carbon measurement on all farms.

Throughout our pathway towards 100% responsible sourcing, we’ll be continuing to rigorously examine current regulation and exploring potential updates that will affect our industry to ensure we’re fully compliant with legislation.

2024

During 2024, we’ll be taking another step towards becoming entirely responsibly sourced through the implementation of a number of key initiatives.

One of our key areas of focus when it comes to achieving this goal is, of course, our supply chain and making sure its resilient.

This means we’ll be requiring 100% participation in our responsibility policy from our producers so that we can provide both customers and their consumers with peace of mind that their products have been produced in an entirely sustainable way.

This will complement the regular engagement with producers, where we’ll support them on their ESG journey and measure their progress in operating more sustainably.

2025

Our work over the next two years will be crucial in helping us to ensure that we meet our target of 100% sustainable sourcing by 2025.

Implementing responsible sourcing policies

Animal Health and Welfare Policy

Since we first began operating in the early 1990s, we’ve always believed that the quality in our dairy comes from milk that’s been produced by well-managed, happy and healthy cows.

We want to continue to maximise their welfare, which is why we have our Animal Health and Welfare Policy in place, which applies to all cattle under the care of our UK-based dedicated supply group of farmers.

Our producers must adhere to this policy and as such we’re able to guarantee that the milk in our dairy products is responsibly sourced.

Farm sustainability standards scheme

Our farm sustainability standard guidelines provide our supply group of farmers with key sustainability targets and policies that safeguard employees and animals, as well as assist them in being better placed to pass key Red Tractor audits.

These policies help ensure that the raw materials in our products are produced in a sustainable and responsible way, while also providing economic and regulatory benefits.

The result: An efficient and robust supply chain built on sustainability

By becoming 100% sustainably sourced by 2025 we can help to ensure that our supply chain is efficient and robust in weathering economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.

The last few years have taught us the challenges facing the supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have highlighted the importance of having a resilient and efficient supply chain, with disruptions to global trade causing shortages and delays in the delivery of key products.

Through responsible sourcing we can ensure that our raw materials are produced in a sustainable way meaning our supply will become more efficient. This will leave us better placed to prepare for future crises and mitigate the impact of any external disruptions to the supply chain.

An efficient supply chain can help to reduce waste, energy consumption, and carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable economy and future for the UK.

If you’d like to discover more about Meadow, and sample our ingredients, you can do so by contacting our customer service team. Or keep up to date on the latest industry and company news on our Twitter and LinkedIn.