Compass charts progress towards net zero with speech at HCA Forum

Compass Group UK & Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2030, outlining its sustainability journey to the HCA Forum.

Carolyn Ball, director of delivery of Net Zero, and Rees Bramwell, sustainability director, shared insights into the progress and challenges faced since the company made its bold pledge in 2021.

Ball described climate change as a force that will drive ‘the most extensive change to our economic system globally’. Since the company’s Net Zero commitment, Compass had grown by 20%, now operated across 4,000 locations with a 50,000-strong workforce.

She revealed that food accounts for 62% of the company’s emissions, in addition to those created by kitchen operations.

With half of global GDP reliant on nature, Ball emphasised the need to balance environmental responsibility with meeting people’s dietary needs. Analysing 21,000 recipes and reformulating the 240m meals served annually had been key to reducing the company’s environmental impact without compromising on taste or nutrition.

Bramwell highlighted the role of ingredients in driving emissions, with red meat as a major contributor. He noted that monthly emissions reporting had helped identify the impact of menu changes. A targeted shift – for example, swapping to soya or pea protein in dishes – had led to significant carbon savings.

Reformulations had extended to seemingly small items, such as switching the gravy recipe, which resulted in a 28% carbon reduction.

He said that in NHS settings, where nutrition was prioritised for patient recovery, the company had made vegetarian and vegan options more visible, now comprising 40% of the offer.

Supply chain collaboration, initially with SMEs and later larger suppliers, had supported reductions in packaging and food waste. Innovations such as reusable Cauliboxes and encouraging the use of china rather than disposables in hospital cafés were cutting single-use waste, though logistical challenges remained.

“Data is difficult,” Bramwell admitted, “but it helps us move the dial.” By focusing on practical changes like recycling and food waste reduction, Compass had empowered its teams to ‘take meaningful daily actions’ -proof that small changes at scale could deliver big results.