We all have a role to play in protecting our planet.
And we know that our efforts towards better sustainability should start from the ground up. From the fields to the shelves, we’re committed to continuous improvement and are always looking for other ways that we can minimise the environmental impacts of our activities and become a more sustainable business.
Nairn’s are playing an active role in protecting healthy ecosystems with green practices and transforming our food system for the betterment of our planet, our people and our communities.
We want to ensure that each step we take is a step in the right direction.
Palm oil is found in thousands of products and is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. You’ll find it in cosmetics, cleaning products and baked goods – that includes some of ours.
We are very aware of the environmental issues surrounding the production of palm oil in some areas and our need to take extra care to source all our ingredients in a way that protects the planet and the life in it.
We work hard to ensure ALL the palm fruit oil we use in Nairn’s branded products is sustainably sourced.
What does sustainable palm oil mean?
We’re proud to say 100% of the palm oil we use is certified by RSPO (The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). They are responsible for completing strict audits and checks to make sure producers comply with sustainability criteria and particularly that orangutans and other wildlife are not threatened. This includes measures to protect soil fertility, waste disposal, water management, support of local communities and making sure that new plantations have not replaced primary forest or high conservation grade areas.
We only buy from a segregated supply chain for Nairn’s branded products so that we can be confident about the origins of our ingredients and our supply of sustainable palm oil products.
Our efforts to source sustainable palm oil have been recognised by a number of bodies.
Nairn’s feature on the sustainable palm oil shopping list that was created by Act for Wildlife. This shows conscious shoppers which manufacturers are committed to using only sustainably sourced palm oil in their branded products. We have also been recognised for our sustainable palm oil practices by being officially included in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) global palm oil scorecard and scoring well within the top 25% respondents.
This all means that you can enjoy Nairn’s products with the confidence that our ingredients are sustainable and produced without causing harm to the environment.
Not only do we look for new ways to create more sustainable products, the same goes for our packaging.
As we work with food that needs to stay fresh and safe for consumption, finding recyclable packaging solutions can often be a tricky task. But we’ve made a number of changes to improve Nairn’s packaging recently.
We have ditched our mixed laminate films in favour of more sustainable options. For example, our previous OPP/PE laminate porridge films have now changed to PE/PE.
Our OPP packaging is now recyclable in store so is currently the best available option. But we are not resting there, we’re actively seeking new alternatives to OPP.
The black plastic trays used for our Mini Oatcakes have also been replaced with recyclable clear trays.
We’re doing our bit to reduce energy usage in our offices and bakeries. We’ve reduced our carbon footprint by purchasing 100% renewable electricity and upgrading all lights to LED.
We have installed solar panels and voltage optimisation equipment at both of our bakeries. This provides about 35% of the power we use at our Gluten Free bakery, and about 14% of our total electricity demand. Together, solar panels and voltage optimisation should reduce Nairn's electricity demand from the grid for the whole business by 20%.
The boiler in our dedicated gluten free bakery has been upgraded to a more efficient condensing boiler. This saw efficiency improve from approx. 60% to 90%.
We also encourage our team to have more sustainable commutes through our cycle to work scheme.
We continue to focus on improving the efficiency of our production lines and reducing waste. We send no waste to landfill and have signed up to a food waste reduction initiative called WRAP. This climate action NGO develop collaborative projects that enable organisations to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, and protect water resources. We also have worked with Zero Waste Scotland to validate our Scope 1 & 2 reduction plans.
We are committed to protecting the landscapes that we source our ingredients and materials from, as well as the rights of indigenous communities and people who make these environments their home, find out more about our deforestation and land conversion policy here.
We have had our emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative as consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from Nairn’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to well-below 2°C with a target of 1.5°C.
Caring About our Community
We’re not just focusing on what happens at our sites. Looking beyond, we’re always searching for new ways we can champion inclusion and create more opportunities for local people.
We back the causes that need support and are doing much-needed work in the local community.
Supporting Important Causes through our Charity Working Group
From our annual fund, the Nairn’s charity working group share support amongst causes. From health to employment support, music and sport, this years’ recipients make a real difference to their local communities.
Partnering with Social Bite through their First Jobs Programme
We’re working with our friends at Social Bite to play our part in helping break the cycle of homelessness. Job First Programme helps us provide real and fulfilling employment opportunities and support people as they reach their potential.
