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A diverse group of pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK are celebrating becoming the first to achieve an ‘On the Road to Net Zero certification from the Net Zero Hospitality Initiative.
24 sites have been awarded the new certification which recognises each venue’s ongoing commitment to tackling the climate crisis. They include Lisini Pub Company in Lanarkshire in Scotland, The Assemblies Group in Bristol, Fazenda Rodizio Bar and Grill and PIG Hotels with sites across the UK, among others.
The hospitality sector is responsible for up to 15% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and the UK Government has set a target for the whole economy to be Net Zero by 2050. The Net Zero Hospitality initiative, developed by Net Zero Now, the climate action platform, and supported by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Pernod Ricard UK, aims to help hospitality businesses measure and reduce their emissions using tailored reduction plans – enabling them to unlock multiple business benefits including reducing costs, increasing customer demand and engaging staff.
The Initiative has over 2,800 venues signed up and is currently managing over 480,000 tonnes of carbon emissions on its online platform.
“The tools they need are now accessible and affordable – the question is not if they should go Net Zero, it’s when.” : Net Zero Now founder, Simon Heppner
All the certified venues have calculated their carbon footprint as part of the Initiative and received a tailored reduction plan for the coming years. They have all now committed to annual reporting of their footprint and to reducing their scope 1 and 2 emissions by 25 per cent over 5 years. As a result, they have now been awarded ‘On the Road to Net Zero’ certification marks to display in their venues.
Together, all these certified sites generate over 34,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year – equivalent to the emissions from driving a petrol car 5176 times around the world’s circumference. If they deliver on their agreed reduction plans, they will remove at least 1500 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 5 years.
The newly-certified venues are already taking action to bring down their emissions, with multiple projects underway including switching to renewable energy, changing to low-energy lightbulbs, reducing food waste and reducing the use of meat on menus.
Sam Jones, Head of Climate and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said: “Congratulations to everyone that has received an accreditation. Support for the Net Zero Hospitality Initiative is one of the ways we’re working with our customers to help them drive down their carbon impact whilst reducing our scope three emissions, highlighting that collaboration is key to tackling the climate change crisis.”
Net Zero Now founder, Simon Heppner, adds: “These hospitality businesses are leading the way for the industry. Seeing them take the lead in tackling climate change will make a huge difference to how we all approach it. I encourage more hospitality businesses to get on board. The tools they need are now accessible and affordable – the question is not if they should go Net Zero, it’s when.”
