At our September Confectionery Live event, we spoke to Anna Pierce, Director of Sustainability at Tate & Lyle about setting sustainability goals, measuring success and waste management
Could you introduce yourself and give an overview of what you do at Tate & Lyle?
I’m Anna Pierce, Director of Sustainability at Tate & Lyle. I lead our sustainability program, aligning it with our company’s goals and helping our customers achieve their sustainability targets. This includes everything from reducing carbon footprints to ensuring responsible sourcing of raw materials.
What measures does Tate & Lyle have in place to ensure sustainable sourcing of raw materials?
Sustainable sourcing is key for us, and it begins with our supplier audit program. We audit tier one suppliers—those who supply us directly—based on risk factors, such as where they are located. We conduct set audits and sometimes in-person audits to verify data on the ground. Sustainability is part of our terms of doing business. We expect suppliers to share their carbon footprint data, and in return, we share data they may need from us to help with their reporting. It’s an ongoing process, and as relationships with suppliers deepen, we’re able to ask more specific questions about emissions. These audits are more than just compliance—they’re relationship-building opportunities.
How does Tate & Lyle incorporate sustainability metrics into its supplier selection?
This is an area of ongoing development. Right now, we’re starting by collecting data from suppliers and helping them understand the importance of sustainability and emissions reduction. We’re not yet at the point of having rigid criteria that determine whether we will or won’t partner with a supplier based on their sustainability practices. That said, we are actively working toward that. The reality is, some suppliers, especially those closer to farms or in agriculture, are still early in their sustainability journey. We’re meeting them where they are and guiding them through the process.
That’s really interesting. How does Tate & Lyle track energy efficiency across its various sites?
We use an ESG data collection tool called Benchmark Gen Suite to track energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions across our facilities. We also have a sustainability engineering team that works closely with each site to identify opportunities for decarbonisation and energy efficiency. This includes identifying energy hotspots and developing project roadmaps. We’ve also conducted decarbonisation assessments at our four largest facilities to understand where we can make the most impact. For example, fully electrifying a facility could decarbonise it, but it’s not always feasible due to infrastructure limitations. That’s something we’re working on with a long-term goal of achieving net zero by 2050.
Speaking of long-term goals, what are Tate & Lyle’s targets for energy efficiency over the next 5-10 years?
In May, we approved 1.5-degree science-based targets. Previously, our targets were set well below two degrees, but after looking at our decarbonisation opportunities, we decided to set more ambitious goals. By 2028, we aim to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 38%, which are related to our energy use and industrial operations. We’ve set the same target for Scope 3 emissions, which include the broader supply chain. Additionally, we’re targeting a 23% reduction in flag emissions, which cover things like deforestation and land use. We moved our target year up to 2028 to align with the timelines of many of our customers, allowing them to better account for decarbonisation in their supply chains.
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