Sustainability: Environmental, Social & Governance Strategy

In Oct 2025, we took delivery of 3 HGV vehicles fitted with ECOOLTEC’s innovative new-generation technology in transport refrigeration. This technology replaces traditional HFC refrigerants that are harmful to the atmosphere and environment, with natural refrigerants which are sustainable and environmentally friendly. We have removed approximately 94 tCO₂e from our carbon footprint through this initiative.

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All refrigeration systems are carefully maintained and optimised to ensure they are running at their most efficient. We have replaced much of our plant across the business to low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants. All future plant will use CO₂ as the main refrigerant (replacing traditional F-gas refrigerants which have a higher GWP) as it is even more efficient and works on reduced equipment.

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Our butchery waste is all collected and re-processed through anaerobic digestion into renewable fuels.

Holdsworth Foods work in partnership with Arrow Oils to collect and recycle waste oil from our customers, which is then reprocessed into renewable fuels.  

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All our warehouses are fitted with LED lighting, reducing energy demand for lighting and further reducing heat load on the refrigeration plant.  

Green electricity is produced at four of our sites by way of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to power our cold stores drastically reducing our demand on grid electricity.

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Compliant with ESOS (Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme) since 2015. Audits of the energy used by our buildings, processes and transport to identify cost-effective energy saving measures.

Compliant with SECR (Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting). We measure and report on our energy and carbon emissions annually. Our 2023-2024 SECR report indicates a 6% improvement in reduction of energy consumed.

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We have a partnership with Auditel who are working with us to initially calculate, and then work to reduce our Co2e emissions and environmental impact by 2028. This will enable us to calculate our scope 3, in addition to our scope 1 and 2 emissions calculated as part of our ESOS and SECR reporting.

Holdsworth Foods carries Soil Association Accreditation as a wholesaler of Organic Certified products, together with carrying product lines which are certified to various sustainable standards including but not limited to: Free Range, Farm Assured, Red Tractor MCS/MSC and Fairtrade.

We own a protected oak woodland which surrounds our Halifax depot and supports many bird and mammal species including resident owls. We have removed or reduced the use of pesticides and herbicides on all of our premises.

We are working with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on their Wilder Chesterfield project, to bring back species in to areas around our sites.