Walkers

The carbon-friendly potato - Walkers’ story

Did you know that Walkers were the first ever brand to display a Carbon Reduction Label on their packets? Back in 2006 Walkers became the first company to team up with the Carbon Trust to map a product’s carbon content.  Their Cheese & Onion crisps were the first to undergo the process – their journey being scrutinised from fertiliser to field, shop to home and disposal.

This, the first ever, carbon footprinting exercise was also one of the most complex. When they found that only 30% of the carbon emissions were produced while under the direct control of PepsiCo UK & Ireland (Walkers’ parent company), they embarked on an ambitious programme of supplier education. Using its influence as a major customer they convened a series of Supply Chain Summits to consider how all producers could cut carbon.  Walkers also set about improving energy efficiency at its Leicester factory (the world’s largest crisp manufacturing plant) and at other sites, and switched to 100% British potatoes to reduce food miles.

Investment didn’t stop there, with Walkers working closely with the Carbon Trust to ensure consumers understood the significance of the world’s first ever Carbon Reduction Label. High-profile publicity campaigns have been used to build awareness and understanding of what a footprint is, and how they can contribute to a better future for us all. 

Results have been substantial – in just two years Walkers has eaten away at its carbon footprint by 7% (or 6g of CO2) to 80g per packet.

Throughout 2009 Walkers continued to invest in further research to help farmers reduce emissions through better agricultural and storage practices, including how to reduce soil erosion from potato farming and identifying varieties of potato that can grow using less water. Today, through incorporating carbon management Walkers now makes business decisions, such as capital investments, looking through a ‘carbon lens’ – with bigger benefits for all of us.