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Pilgrim's UK has announced plans to invest over £10 million into sustainability projects over the next year. The funds will support the roll-out of a series of process and operational developments, helping the business reach its goal of becoming net zero by 2030.

Projects include the full transition to LED lighting across all of its sites and switching out equipment with energy-efficient alternatives, such as gas boilers with heat pumps and improved refrigeration systems. The company already uses local solar and wind energy at some of its facilities, and will now extend these to the remainder of its manufacturing plants in the UK. Combined, the projects will help to reduce Pilgrim's carbon emissions by 11,000 tonnes annually.

Morten Knudsen, chief financial officer at Pilgrim’s UK, said: “The sector has grappled with significant challenges over the past few years, which we continue to help our farmer network and supply chain partners to navigate. But our unwavering commitment to our sustainability roadmap remains at the heart of our business. We recognise as one of the leading farming and food businesses here in the UK, we have a responsibility to be trailblazers in this space, supporting our global ambitions.”

He added: “We want to accelerate our progress, working with the entire value chain, so that we can continue to go further and faster to becoming a net zero business and that means investing in vital sustainability projects like these to help us get there”.