Nando’s
We supported Nando’s to commit to ambitious science-based targets whilst improving chicken welfare, a first for the industry
Nando’s becomes the first restaurant group in Europe with an approved science-based target
direct emissions by 2030, building on a 40% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2015
further reduced from the footprint of a Nando’s meal by 2030
Nando’s sustainability journey
Nando’s is a popular South African restaurant chain that operates over 1,000 outlets in 35 countries.They recognise that climate change is a very real and serious issue and understand the role the food industry must play in being part of the solution.
Nando’s is the first restaurant group in Europe with an approved science-based target, and, while conscious of the scale of the challenge ahead, Nando’s will achieve this goal by an absolute reduction in emissions, as opposed to through carbon offsetting.
Nando’s started its sustainability journey many years ago and has already achieved key milestones, including reducing the carbon footprint of a meal by 40% since 2015 and donating over 2 million meals to local charities through the No Chuckin’ Our Chicken program.
Matching ambition with a credible strategy
Nando’s are committed to sustainability, one of its key business priorities. However to take real climate action the team knew they needed robust targets in place with a clear strategy of how to achieve them. There is a distinct reputational risk that companies face if their sustainability ambition doesn’t stand up to scrutiny – the negative impact of which could be media backlash and loss of customers and investors.
Aligning a strategy to climate science
Science-based targets are one of the strongest and most credible ways a company can demonstrate their commitment to tackling climate change. Setting an approved science-based target requires companies to fully understand their Scope 3 value chain emissions and set a baseline for reduction, which can be challenging.
Process
The Nando’s sustainability team worked closely with Carbon Intelligence to engage their senior management team and appoint a sponsor for the programme.
First, the team conducted a Scope 3 gap analysis to understand Nando’s emissions boundaries, including supporting a full Scope 3 emission footprint to identify material emissions sources. Once the baseline was set, Carbon Intelligence modelled several science-based target options with reduction roadmaps to show the Nando’s team how they could reduce emissions.
A large part of this process was modelling various future scenarios of what would happen to Scope 3 emissions if the Nando’s team made certain business decisions. For example, switching some of the menu to plant-based options, moving to a higher welfare chicken or working with their suppliers to encourage them to set SBTs.
After the modelling workshops were held with senior management to agree on the level of ambition for their SBT. This stage was crucial to educating and equipping the team at Nando’s with the tools needed to drive the programme forward and achieve success. The targets were then finalised and submitted to the Science-Based Targets initiative for approval, becoming the first restaurant group in Europe to do so.
Key Benefits
Clear direction and strategy
Confidence in Scope 3 data
Board-level engagement
Takeaway
Carbon Intelligence is now working with one of Nando’s main chicken suppliers to help them reduce their own emissions. Nando’s has shown that by exploring Scope 3 emissions and engaging your key suppliers you can cascade positive climate action throughout your supply chain.
Commitments
To achieve their goals, Nando’s will commit to
- Reduce direct emissions to absolute zero by 2030, building on a 40% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2015
- Further reduce the footprint of a Nando’s meal by almost 50% by 2030
- 100% renewable gas in all restaurants by 2022
- Increase plant based menu options
- Support suppliers in reducing their carbon footprint and setting science-based targets
Chicken Welfare Commitment
In addition to the ten-year science-based sustainability targets, Nando’s is acutely aware of the continuous need to raise animal welfare standards, both as a business and across the industry, and believes that the issues of emissions reduction and animal welfare are deeply interlinked.
Nando’s has partnered with Compassion in World Farming, FAI Farms and the Soil Association to introduce a new long-term chicken welfare policy. The new policy will include a range of key welfare metrics so Nando’s can measure and track its progress to help drive real change in the chicken industry.