Sustainability

A sustainable business in a sustainable world

We’re proud that we were one of the very first food manufacturers to publish a commitment to reduce the impact our operations have on the world around us. At UB, we’re 100% committed to driving long-term sustainability within three key areas:

• Financial Sustainability

  First and foremost, we must deliver financial sustainability. This includes generating sufficient profits and cash to meet our commitments, and to provide funding to grow and develop our brands. Ultimately, it is this financial solidity that enables us to develop the skills of our employees, make contributions to our local communities and fund the implementation of leaner and greener manufacturing techniques and make contributions to our local communities.

  Our LEAN initiatives are focused on continuous improvement activity in the business. The overall aim is to eliminate waste and maximise customer value by using problem solving techniques across all areas of UB.

• Environmental Sustainability

  We know that improving our environmental sustainability not only makes good sense for us but also for our consumers, our employees and our local communities.

  In 2008 we set a number of targets including:

  • 35% reduction of CO² emissions in the UK
  • 25% reduction of CO² emissions in Northern Europe
  • 0% food waste to landfill
  • 25% reduction in water use
  • 25% reduction in packaging
  • 22% reduction of CO² emissions from transport
  • Sourcing even more ethical and sustainable ingredients
  • Nine UB sites have achieved zero waste to landfill. Since 2006 all sites have achieved zero food waste to landfill and across the group non-food waste to landfill has been reduced by over 80%.
  • Transport carbon emissions have reduced by 33% and annual mileage by 25% since 2005.
  • UB has taken 13 million miles off the roads since 2005.
  • Packaging has reduced by 13% since 2003. As a result UB has taken over 500 lorry journeys off the road.
  • Factory water use has reduced by 33% since 2007.

  Would you like to download a full copy of our 'Achieving Sustainability' report?

• Community Sustainability

  As a major employer, we have a key role to play in supporting our local communities, as well as the wider world in which we operate. In 2008 we launched our ‘Building the Community’ manifesto, which set out our specific goals and commitments, including:

  • Partnerships with schools – We help with science curriculums and support our people to become school governors
  • Partnerships with further education – We offer research posts to under (and post) graduates, and provide our expertise to colleges and universities
  • Supporting local communities – We provide paid days off for work-in-the-community projects
  • Supporting employee skills – As well as this Graduate Programme, we are also providing apprenticeships and encouraging employees and agency workers to gain formal qualifications
  • Literacy and numeracy training – Training and qualifications for our people and their families
  • Health assessments – For every employee, plus a well-being programme to drive overall health and fitness

  Would you like to download a full copy of our ‘Building our Community’ manifesto?

Our green lorry

All of UB's waste vegetable oil is now converted for use as bio-diesel fuel for our fleet and the vehicles used by one of our transport providers.