Root Zero

Carbon Reduction (Science Based Targets)


We know carbon emissions are bad for the planet. Being Carbon Neutral is a great start. But it’s only the beginning and we need to do better, which means more than just measuring and offsetting our impact.

NET ZERO

We are committed in law by the UK Government to Net Zero emissions by 2050, but considerable changes need to take place well before then. To hold off some of the worst climate impacts, and avoid irreversible damage to our planet, we must hold temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

This requires halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

SCIENCE BASED TARGETS

At ROOT ZERO we have set a target to reduce the carbon intensity of our potatoes by 51% by 2030, covering emissions from across the entire supply chain. Going further, we have committed through the Science Based Target Initiative to a company-wide 1.5°C target to reduce operational emissions by 46% by 2030

SCIENCE BASED TARGET LOGO


OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO, AND FOR THIS WE ARE FOCUSSED ON DECARBONISATION ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN AS WELL AS CARBON REMOVALS IN OUR SUPPLY CHAIN.

We are 100% focussed on reducing our footprint to the absolute minimum.

THE ROOT TO ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION & REMOVAL PATHWAY

This will reduce our dependency on credible carbon offsets from now until 2030 and beyond.


37648 PPL Root Zero Illustrated Graph

We have measured every contribution to our carbon footprint - from the power used on our farms to the transport used to take ROOT ZERO potatoes to the supermarket, even down to the way you cook your spuds at home, to see where we can improve GHG emissions in our supply chain.

We have worked with the UK's leading sustainability experts 3Keel and have broken down our entire supply chain to see what we can do to improve:

37549 PPL Root Zero Value Pie Col


FARMING

Our FARMING practices release 4,439 tonnes of CO2e and makes up 18% of our total carbon emissions. Here we show the different processes that go into farming our potatoes:

37549 PPL Root Zero Farming Pie Col

The Root Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Pathway – Farming

TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 51% BY 2030, WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR FARMING EMISSIONS BY 37% OVER THE NEXT 9 YEARS.

37648 PPL Root Zero Std Farming Graph

PRODUCTION & TRANSPORT

Releases 2,688 tonnes CO2e and contributed 11% towards our total carbon emissions. The different processes included in the production & transport of our potatoes:

37549 PPL Root Zero Production Pie Col

The Root Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Pathway – Production & Transport

TO REDUCE OUR ROOT ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 51% BY 2030, WE NEED TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM PRODUCTION & TRANSPORT BY 47%

37648 PPL Root Zero Std Production Graph

RETAIL

Releases 2,963 tonnes CO2e and contributed 12% towards our total carbon emissions.

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RETAIL Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Pathway

TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 51% BY 2030, WE NEED RETAILERS TO REDUCE THEIR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 78% OVER THE NEXT 9 YEARS.

37648 PPL Root Zero Std Retail Graph

CONSUMER USE & DISPOSAL

Releases 14,522 tonnes CO2e and contributed 59% towards out total carbon emissions:

37549 PPL Root Zero Consumer Pie Col

Consumer Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Pathway

OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT DEFRA AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THE CONSUMER ON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 50%.

37648 PPL Root Zero Std Consumer Graph

Our Climate Action Plan details how we will reduce our GHG emissions.

We have followed the Science in our decision making, leading us on our journey from carbon neutrality to reducing our GHG emissions over the next 9 years by 51%.

To look at this in more detail, please have a look at our ROOT ZERO Manifesto - a detailed document with further information on our GHG emission reduction journey.