Greene King: ‘Collaboration on net zero is absolutely vital’

As one of the UK’s biggest pub companies, Greene King is acutely aware its journey towards net zero involves looking outward. Chief communications & sustainability officer Assad Malic tells MCA that collaboration across the sector is “absolutely vital,” leading the pubco to launch Greene King Engage.

The supplier platform is intended to boost engagement with suppliers on all aspects of ESG, while building collaboration and innovation in the wider sector alongside Greene King’s journey to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

“We identified about 80% of our carbon footprint comes from scope 3 emissions,” Malic says. “The Engage platform was designed for two things: to support conversation, and also to understand supplier data so we can work together to decarbonise the supply chain.”

The platform has made “good progress” considering it launched in October 2023, according to Malic – evidence that there is “commitment, passion, and appetite” across the industry when it comes to sustainability.

“In some cases, we were pushing on open doors,” he adds. “We’ve worked not only with the industry but also with organisations like the National Farmers Union.”

For a big organisation, the key is to prioritise where to focus its efforts. After identifying the biggest contributors to its carbon footprint and setting science-based targets, Greene King now has 20 carbon reduction trials ongoing across its estate.

These include solar panels and heat pumps, along with 1300 charging bays installed across the estate.

“In 2022, we made a decision to put climate science at the heart of our decarbonisation plans.

“What are the big areas of focus we need to start on to reach our commitments and ambitions? That’s where climate science comes into its own and allows us to prioritise.”

All-electric kitchens and voltage optimisation has been rolled out across part of the estate, reducing energy use, with conversations on the rollout of solar panels and heat pumps underway.

Single-use containers were another cause for concern, resulting in the Tub2Pub recycling campaign to reduce waste. The approach is broad-based, with tech designed to tie in with the overall strategy as Greene King becomes a more digitally led business.

“We’ve set up an ESG board and also a cross-business group structure that reports to the board,” Malic explains. “It’s responsible for developing group strategy around decarbonisation and for assessing how we’re progressing on those plans.

“It’s also about, what are your customers telling you and how do we make it easier for them to make more sustainable choices?”

For him, a key success is lowering costs to help smaller pubs decarbonise, and sharing best practice through an industry-led initiative such as Greene King Engage.

“This is important particularly where you need scale.”