Sky launches food emissions labelling at every UK and ROI site to empower employees to reduce their carbon footprint

• Sky has launched food emissions labelling information in all 29 restaurants of its 15 UK and ROI sites, helping employees make better choices for the planet
• The programme, Carbon Counts, is powered by award-winning platform Foodsteps
• The move is part of Sky’s commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2030

Sky is introducing a brand-new food emissions labelling programme, Carbon Counts, helping 25,000 employees to make informed decisions on the carbon impact of their food choices. Data from the project will also be used to help decarbonise recipes without compromising on taste or value.

Carbon Counts labelling will be added to cafe and restaurant menus across Sky’s estate giving staff the ability to track their carbon footprint and average daily carbon emissions. To launch the labelling programme, Sky has partnered with Foodsteps, the award-winning platform which calculates the environmental impacts across large and complex food operations.

Research shows that swapping just one meat dish for a plant-based one saves greenhouse gas emissions that are equivalent to the energy used to charge your phone for two years . Empowering colleagues to make informed decisions about their meal choices is the latest in a series of Sky initiatives to protect the environment.

The labelling shows the impact ratings, ranging from A-E, assigned according to the carbon footprint per kilogram (the carbon intensity) of each food item, with A rated food having a ‘very low’ carbon intensity. This measure allows an easy comparison between different servings and meal sizes. Alongside this is the carbon intensity of the item, showing the carbon footprint per serving.

In February 2020 Sky set its commitment to halve emissions across its business and value chain by 2030, and as part of this the company is committed to reducing the direct emissions created from employee daily activities.

Fiona Ball, Group Director, Bigger Picture: “We are proud to be one of the first large corporations to launch a food emissions programme in the UK, demonstrating our commitment to workplace sustainability. Our colleagues are a vital part of our Sky Zero journey and the Carbon Counts programme empowers them to make informed choices for the planet both at work and at home."

Tilly Drummond, Sky Spaces, Development Chef: “Introducing food emissions labelling in Sky’s restaurants has given myself and my team a deeper understanding of the impact our dishes have on our carbon footprint. It's been great to see that our considerate approach to recipe creation can make a difference in terms of lowering carbon emissions – I can’t wait to see the longer-term impact as we continue modifying recipes to be even more sustainable.”

Andrew Stephen, Chief Impact Officer, Foodsteps: “We’re excited to start on the journey with Sky. We’ve analysed over 1,500 food items and are closely watching how this affects behaviour and purchases. We look forward to lots of ground-breaking collaboration with Sky and their catering team Gather and Gather, the chefs, suppliers and diners as we reduce their food carbon footprint to within the planetary boundaries.”

The UK Climate Change Committee has recommended reducing meat and dairy consumption by 20% by 2030 to meet climate goals, therefore, by empowering colleagues to choose more plant rich menu options, this will make a substantial difference to our climate.

Sky is a long-standing leader in workplace sustainability, from being powered by 100% renewable electricity to removing single-use plastic across our sites.

Sky recently became the first UK companies to introduce an all-electric private bus service for employees, reducing Sky’s carbon emissions by 272 tonnes every year compared to the old diesel fleet.

Notes to editors

• Sky’s 2030 net zero carbon commitment has been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), with the commitment in-line with the levels required to meet the Paris agreement goals.
• In October 2021, Sky launched Sky Glass, the world’s first TV to be certified as a CarbonNeutral® product and the only TV to come in recyclable packing, free from single-use plastic.
• All Sky Originals, Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports host broadcasts are certified albert Carbon Neutral productions.
• Sky achieved its RE100target to source 100% renewable electricity in 2020 and continues to do so.
• Sky is committed to EV100, the campaign to transition vehicle fleets to electric by 2030.

Contact: Matt.Palutikof@sky.uk