Where to Start w/ Supply Chain Sustainability in Agri-Food

Navigating Sustainability in an Increasingly Complex Food System

Agri-food businesses are at the heart of a complex, high-pressure supply chain that is more regulated, scrutinised, and resource-intensive than ever before. Whether you’re a food processor, supplier, or distributor, the pressure to comply with sustainability requirements is mounting—often without the same level of resources or influence as major retailers.

From meeting regulatory compliance to handling supplier expectations and consumer demands, businesses are being asked to provide more transparency, data, and sustainability credentials than ever before. The challenge is not just about reducing emissions or sourcing responsibly—it’s about staying commercially viable while managing these growing expectations.

We know that food businesses want to operate sustainably. But sustainability must be practical, cost-effective, and achievable within the realities of the supply chain. In this guide, we work with you to explore where to start—offering realistic, tailored solutions to help food businesses navigate sustainability challenges without adding excessive burdens.

Understanding Your Supply Chain Pressures: The Reality for Food Processors

The modern food supply chain is a highly interconnected system. Many food businesses are required to meet retailer-driven sustainability standards that demand detailed reporting on emissions, ethical sourcing, and waste reduction.

However, unlike large retailers, many food processors and suppliers lack the internal sustainability teams, data infrastructure, or budget to fully comply with these extensive requests. While large corporations can allocate millions toward ESG compliance, smaller businesses are often left to navigate these demands with limited resources.

What Can You Do?

• Prioritise essential sustainability metrics: Focus on what matters most to your biggest customers and regulatory requirements first, for smaller businesses we can help you do this at low or no cost for software.

• Leverage existing certifications: Many major retailers accept third-party accreditations (such as BRCGS, Red Tractor, LEAF Marque or Global GAP) and will acknowledge them as evidence of elements of your ESG evidence.

• Collaborate across the supply chain: Work with suppliers and partners to share data and reduce the reporting burden.

📌 Retailers in the UK have "committed" to assist in reducing the burden of paperwork by requesting similar certifications for their supply chains, and selecting standards external to them so that this can be the case, [in my opinion, they are not doing a fantastic job of this at the moment, hence the "".]

Reducing Emissions Without Disrupting Business Operations

Food processors are now/will be expected to track and reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining the same production volumes, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. But not all carbon reduction strategies are practical for every business.

Realistic Emissions Reduction Strategies:

• Energy efficiency first: Simple upgrades like LED lighting, improved insulation, and smarter refrigeration systems can significantly cut costs and emissions.

• Optimised logistics: Collaborate with transport providers who use low-emission or alternative fuel vehicles to reduce scope 3 emissions.

• Targeted waste reduction: Reducing food loss within processing is often more impactful and cost-effective than complex carbon offsetting schemes.

📌 Do you know that in Northern Ireland at the moment [Spring 2025] there are several applicable grants and tax relief for Renewables and Energy Efficiency - Chat to Stuart Laing at Eeco Energy to find out more on this.

Ethical Sourcing: Balancing Sustainability with Supply Chain Realities

Many food processors rely on global supply chains that are subject to shifting regulations, fluctuating costs, and external risks. Retailers and regulators may push for responsible sourcing, but the practical reality is that businesses must balance sustainability with cost stability and supplier availability.

How to Approach Ethical Sourcing in a Practical Way:

• Use recognised third-party standards: Certifications like Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, or RSPO can help meet sustainability goals without requiring independent auditing of every supplier.

• Engage in direct supplier dialogue: Instead of assuming compliance issues, speak with suppliers about their sustainability practices and challenges. Being BRC audited and only having BRC approved businesses in your supply chain helps with this.

• Advocate for proportional reporting requirements: Push back against excessive compliance demands that are disproportionate to the size and capacity of your business.

📌 To see what "best practice" looks like in terms of communicating these plans - Google McCains Sustainability Roadmap and see how they are supporting international farmers to farm regeneratively.

Minimising Waste: A Cost-Saving Sustainability Measure

Waste reduction is one of the most practical and financially beneficial sustainability initiatives for food processors. Unlike long-term carbon strategies, minimising waste offers immediate savings and operational efficiencies.

Tangible Waste Reduction Tactics:

• Rework & repurpose surplus product: Instead of discarding off-spec products, explore secondary product markets (e.g., surplus vegetables into soups or purees).

• Smarter inventory management: AI-driven forecasting tools help reduce overproduction and food loss.

• Sustainable packaging that meets regulations: Many retailers are pushing for reduced plastic use, but alternatives must be cost-effective and functional.

📌 UK-based surplus food networks like FareShare help processors redistribute unsold but edible food, preventing waste while supporting community initiatives.

Practical Sustainability: A Competitive Edge, Not Just a Compliance Burden

For many food processors, sustainability is not about avoiding regulation—it’s about staying commercially viable and competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. By focusing on the most relevant sustainability actions, businesses can meet compliance requirements without being overwhelmed.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Prioritise the most impactful sustainability measures based on your supply chain and customer demands.

✅ Reference existing frameworks (BRCGS, Global GAP) to reduce duplicate compliance work.

✅ Leverage practical efficiency improvements (energy use, waste reduction) that provide both environmental and financial benefits.

✅ Collaborate with suppliers and retailers to advocate for realistic, proportionate sustainability expectations.

📌 As the EUDR has come in across the European supply chain, the UK’s food industry is currently working toward deforestation-free supply chains under new legislation, but smaller businesses are lobbying for phased implementation to allow time for compliance.

Final Thoughts: Sustainability Should Work for Your Business, Not Against It

The path to sustainability doesn’t have to be filled with impossible demands. The key is to approach sustainability in a way that makes sense for your business—focusing on the most relevant improvements, leveraging industry collaboration, and ensuring that compliance doesn’t become an excessive burden.

✅ Need help navigating sustainability in your supply chain? We specialise in practical, tailored solutions that work within your operational constraints.

Let’s talk about how we can support your sustainability goals while keeping your business competitive. Send me an email at steph@esgmadeeasy.co.uk and I can direct your enquiry internally or give you a buzz myself.