INTRODUCTION

from Dr Nigel Davies, Muntons Director of Technical and Sustainability
Welcome to our 2021 sustainability report, which covers the latest and continuing environmental related activities undertaken by us at muntons. We have made good progress on setting our near-term and longer-term ambitions and we continue to work on the areas where there is still more to do.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant and unpredicted challenges to our business and stakeholders. However, 2020 continued the reign of over 20 years of positive sustainability behaviours in the business and we did not delay any of our green plans. We are well on the way to reducing our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by at least 60% compared to 2010. The UK has set a reduction target of 78% by 2035. We are confident we will meet that goal and plan to find more practical solutions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Since 2014, we have been on a path to generate as much of our own heat and electricity as possible. Doing it in a way that utilises renewable resources and has a real, verifiable and positive impact on the environment. In 2020, we built on the success of our anaerobic digester in Stowmarket, and opened a brand- new biomass heating facility at our Flamborough Maltings in Bridlington. The biomass plant uses locally sourced, verifiable and sustainable wood chip to reduce GHG emissions by 90%. For business continuity purposes, the previous highly efficient gas Varicon burners were retained, and now act as a reserve supply. We stipulated that the wood sourced must be FSC certified, available within 70 miles of the plant and to have no useful purpose other than heating.

As I write, we are nearing completion of a bio-energy centre at our Stowmarket site, that will allow us to achieve and likely exceed our science- based target for scopes 1 and 2. Our malt and malted ingredients facilities at Stowmarket will become self-sufficient for heat by switching from natural gas systems to highly efficient and almost carbon zero biomass-fuelled boilers that will co-generate electricity. In total, the energy centre will deliver a saving of carbon equivalent to the running of 6,000 cars annually.

We are proud to lead by example and offer practical guidance around technology and carbon footprint impact assessment to many of our customers. Sharing best practice and encouraging innovation and involvement is key to achieving global carbon reduction in a debate which can often become embroiled in politics and dispute. With the support of our supply chain and team members, we can reduce our impact on the environment, protect financial stability in our operations and continue to enthuse those who work with and for us. This approach is recognized as the triple bottom line approach to sustainability with benefits for people, profit and planet.

As the leading maltster championing sustainability we tackle the big issues of our time such as climate change not just as the right thing to do, but essential to the success of our business, increasing our value and presence within society and supporting those within our supply chain. That is why we have it at the forefront of our business planning and say, “Practical Sustainability – committed to positive change for a sustainable future”.
As the first to produce carbon calculators that determine the intensity of carbon footprint across the supply chain from farm to malting barley and onward to beer and whisky production, we believe in open and transparent data to support the industry.
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As pioneers of sustainability in the malting industry we can help customers do the same, demystifying the jargon and providing insight into technology and verification.
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For more information about this report please contact: