Greene King has announced a series of measures designed to decarbonise its supply chain.

The hospitality chain, which operates around 2,600 pubs, restaurants, and hotels across England, Wales, and Scotland, said the sustainability measures will save 160,000 journeys each year and repurpose over 16,000 tonnes of waste.

In partnership with logistics provider GXO, the company has implemented hydro-electric refrigeration technology, which will reduce fuel use, and curtains in refrigerated transport that can cut energy consumption by up to 50 per cent during deliveries.

The company is also trialling biodiesel and electric vehicles, including using waste oil from pubs to power vehicles—a measure that can potentially reduce emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to diesel.

Greene King has also improved its recycling efforts. Last year, it recycled over 2.7 million litres of used cooking oil, more than 4,000 tonnes of cardboard, and sent over 9,000 tonnes of food waste to anaerobic digestion.

The company has expanded its recycling programme to include ink cartridges, batteries, correx boards, and crushed glass in London.

Beyond recycling, Greene King has implemented food redistribution measures, with over 90 per cent of excess food at depots donated to charities. This resulted in an estimated 240,000 meals donated in 2024.

"Our ongoing partnership with GXO is enabling us to drive forward best practices and innovation and adopt a range of environmentally responsible operational measures," said Vance Fairman-Smith, group supply chain director at Greene King. "By leveraging innovation, technology, and best practice to reduce inefficiency and waste within the supply chain, the partnership has enabled us to make progress towards our sustainability targets and create a more sustainable supply chain."

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