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ABF Sugar aims to reach net zero GHG emissions across its entire value chain by 2050.
British Sugar engineers with the boilers for the animal feed dryers at our factory in Wissington, UK.
Climate change is affecting ABF Sugar, with changing weather patterns, extreme climate events and an increasing lack of water security. To address these challenges, the division is seeking solutions to reduce its carbon footprint, understand its greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3, and drive innovation in agriculture, transportation and its manufacturing sites. In 2026, it launched updated heat stress guidelines in Africa.
ABF Sugar aims to reach net zero GHG emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. To reach this goal, it has set ambitious targets to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 and Forest, Land and Agriculture (‘FLAG’) GHG emissions by 2030. These targets, including its net zero commitment, have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (‘SBTi’).
Each ABF Sugar business has developed a carbon reduction plan as part of its five-year strategy. Progress is monitored through the ABF Sugar decarbonisation dashboard, which consolidates all the plans and aligns them with its science-based targets. The dashboard enables teams to focus on priority areas, monitor progress and make informed decisions on resource allocation and capital investment in each business.
ABF Sugar consumed 15,298GWh of energy in 2026, in line with 2025. Of this total energy, 68% came from renewable sources, primarily from bagasse, the plant-based fibre that remains after the juice is extracted from crushed sugar cane stalks.
In 2026, ABF Sugar’s Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) GHG emissions decreased by 20% compared to the previous year, driven mainly by site closures. These emissions were 38% lower compared to the 2018 baseline. The reduction against baseline reflects changes in the operational footprint, ongoing improvements in production efficiency, investment in new technology and fuel switching to lower-emission energy sources.
ABF Sugar continues to implement projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy and process improvements. Initiatives that have already been implemented include heat recovery, steam reduction and renewable energy power purchase agreements. Continued focus is being placed on efficient drying processes and fuel switches. Beyond 2030, ABF Sugar plans to explore hydrogen use and further develop biomethane production, electrification and anaerobic digestion technologies.
Combined heat and power (‘CHP’) plants are used across many of ABF Sugar’s sites to supply steam and electricity for the sugar-making process. By efficiently generating its own heat and electrical energy, the business is reducing its GHG emissions and impact on the environment. Surplus electricity is exported to national grids in the UK, Spain, South Africa and Eswatini.
British Sugar, Azucarera and Illovo South Africa are the largest carbon-intensive energy users and are critical to delivery of ABF Sugar’s Scope 1 and 2 carbon reduction targets. A crucial component of ABF Sugar’s decarbonisation strategy is supporting these businesses in transitioning from fossil fuels to lower-carbon alternatives. ABF Sugar’s other African operations primarily use bagasse, the dry fibrous material that remains after crushing sugar cane and extracting the sugar, as their main energy source.
British Sugar, the largest contributor to ABF Sugar’s Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions, has made significant investment across its sites to reduce GHG emissions. Between 2018 and 2026, British Sugar has invested approximately GBP 138m in various initiatives across its sites, contributing to a 35% reduction of Scope 1 GHG emissions and a cumulative reduction of 166kt of CO2e.
At Wissington, a GBP 43m investment in a new steam drying project will replace the existing animal feed gas dryers with a steam drying plant that uses steam generated by the site’s CHP to dry beet pulp. The project is expected to reduce 52,000t of CO2e of Scope 1 GHG emissions and is due to be commissioned and fully operational during the 2027 sugar beet campaign.
At Bury St Edmunds, evaporators commissioned in 2025 completed their first full sugar beet campaign in 2026, delivering increased energy efficiency. Additional energy reduction projects mirrored the success of similar initiatives implemented at Wissington and reduced the site carbon emissions by over 19,000t of CO2e in 2026.
At Newark, focus remains on improving reliability through ongoing investment into energy efficiency, steam usage and optimising existing systems. A GBP 2.4m investment in a new white sugar pan seeding system is expected to improve the reliability and energy performance of the refinery process.
Looking ahead, British Sugar plans to develop its decarbonisation strategy through further efficiency improvements, while exploring alternative fuel and technology options.
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 16,577 | 17,213 | 17,534 | 15,340 | 15,298 |
| Percentage renewable energy | 65% | 67% | 63% | 60% | 68% |
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 1,682 | 1,549 | 1,669 | 1,538 | 1,277 |
| Scope 2 (market-based) | 119 | 197 | 219 | 186 | 109 |
As part of its science-based targets, ABF Sugar has developed targets covering Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions from FLAG activities. Its businesses are developing plans to gain a deeper understanding of the emissions factors linked to their agriculture activities.
As the sugar industry faces the impacts of climate change, ABF Sugar is focusing on building resilience at its own estates and with its farming partners. The aim is to maintain yields and improve them in the medium term where possible.
ABF Sugar has identified the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser and vehicle field movements as the two highest sources of GHG emissions within its agricultural operations and supply chain. Reducing GHG emissions from these two sources has the potential to support efforts towards maximising yield which is central to ABF Sugar's agricultural strategy. For instance, minimising vehicle field movements preserves soil structure, enhances water retention, improves air circulation and boosts organic matter, all of which contribute to better yields. Proper application of synthetic nitrogen at optimal times in the growing cycle is essential for maintaining or increasing yields.
In addition to fertiliser management and vehicle field movements, other factors affecting yield include moisture management (irrigation scheduling), timing of operations, planting at the right time, crop management and integrated pest management. Efficient use of land through best practices that maximise yields is vital for maintaining the current land footprint. Using regenerative agricultural principles such as the SAI Platform Farm Sustainability Assessment (‘FSA’) 3.0 tool improves the potential for higher-yield crops.
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ABF Sugar commits to reach net zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2050.
*The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.
*The target includes FLAG emissions and removals.
*The target boundary includes biogenic land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.
*The target includes FLAG emissions and removals.
British Sugar's factory at Wissington, UK
ABF Sugar’s decarbonisation strategy continues to be underpinned by its SBTi-validated targets, which have been designed to support the articulation of progress in reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions as well as other elements disclosed in this transition plan.
The ABF Sugar Chief Executive and business unit managing directors continue to have oversight and overall responsibility for overseeing climate-related risk, opportunities, overall strategy and transition plans. Managing directors of each business are accountable for setting strategies and action plans based on their business’s material risks, regulatory requirements and customer expectations. This includes assessing and managing material ESG matters across the business, including climate-related risks and opportunities, which includes at a minimum an annual review.
ABF Sugar management supports the Chief Executive and business unit managing director through the following:
Strategic ESG including climate change KPIs, continue to be included in incentive plans for directors.
Consistent with prior years, the annual risk process includes identifying and assessing climate-related risks and opportunities. Climate-related risks and opportunities are collated and reviewed both at an overall division and site level. Any newly identified risks or opportunities will be added to the risk register where it is determined to have a material impact. The results of this are presented to ABF annually at a minimum. All material climate-related risks and opportunities are fully integrated within the risk management framework.
Once integrated into the risk register, each business within ABF Sugar develops action plans as a response. All plans and projects have passed through a well-established governance process that examines each performance improvement proposal against internal rate of return criteria and ESG and climate factors. These plans are approved by the ABF Sugar Chief Executive and business unit managing directors.
ABF Sugar has SBTi-validated targets which are aimed at supporting its transition to a lower-carbon economy. The SBTi has classified ABF Sugar’s Scope 1 and 2 target ambition as in line with a 1.5 degree trajectory.
ABF Sugar has a defined path to achieve these targets; however, this will evolve as and when uncertainties become clear, new technology becomes available or there are changes to the political and regulatory global landscape.
ABF Sugar’s baseline GHG emissions (2018)
(000 tonnes of CO2e, % of total emissions)
Total Scope 1 and 2 | 2,226 |
Scope 1 and 2 (location-based) | 100% |
To seek to achieve its public commitments, ABF Sugar is focusing its efforts on decarbonisation levers. These levers are aligned with business strategy and where ABF Sugar believes it can make the most meaningful difference. These levers focus on the most material emission sources for ABF Sugar. To reflect this we have evolved the disclosure from a list of projects to a lever based framework which is consistent with other businesses. ABF Sugar does not intend to utilise carbon offsets in its decarbonisation strategy.
Efficiency improvements: Steam has been a core utility in sugar manufacturing, used for evaporation, crystallisation and drying, making it one of the largest drivers of on-site energy demand. Improving process efficiency to reduce steam demand offers a targeted way to lower both energy consumption and emissions intensity across production.
Fuel switch: Fuel switching targets the energy source used to generate steam and power, replacing high-carbon fossil fuels with lower-carbon or renewable alternatives such as biomass, biogas or electrification. Given that fuel combustion is a primary source of direct emissions in ABF Sugar’s manufacturing process, the choice of fuel has a significant impact on overall carbon intensity. Transitioning to cleaner fuels therefore provides a direct pathway to materially reduce emissions while maintaining the energy required for core production processes.
Migration to lower emission practices: Migration to practices such as green cane harvesting targets a major source of emissions in the supply chain by eliminating the pre-harvest burning of cane. Burning releases significant GHG and particulates, whereas green harvesting avoids these emissions while retaining crop residues that can enhance soil health and carbon retention. Transitioning to this approach offers a meaningful reduction in overall emissions intensity without changing production volumes.
Soil health improvement: improving soil health can materially reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers by enhancing nutrient availability, water retention and overall soil productivity. The production and application of these fertilisers are emission-intensive, therefore lowering their use directly reduces the carbon footprint associated with cultivation. Strengthening soil-management practices as a result supports both emissions reduction and longer-term agricultural resilience.
In 2026 ABF Sugar spent approximately £206m on 457 approved projects. To date 16 of these projects have contributed a saving of 48 ktCO2e. For its decarbonisation plan, ABF Sugar is planning to spend 43% of its planned capital expenditure to support its climate change strategy and ESG initiatives.
ABF Sugar has seen movement in its Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) emissions from its 2018 baseline year; Shown as:
Vivergo ceased production of bioethanol and animal feed by 31 August 2025. The decision to close followed extensive discussions with the Government to find a regulatory and financial solution that would enable Vivergo to operate on a profitable and sustainable basis. We have considered whether this closure requires a restatement of baseline and prior years. Having considered the ABF scope and restatement policy and the GHG Protocol, we will not restate our baseline or prior year emissions as whilst operations have ceased, we still retain control of the site.
Heat stress is an emerging risk within the business. Over several years, ABF Sugar has been implementing initiatives to mitigate the impact of heat stress on workers. Some initiatives that have been implemented include: monitoring heat exposure and stopping work when conditions become unsafe, improving workplace conditions such as increasing air movement and ventilation, changing work practices to reduce heat stress; hydration programmes; acclimatisation and medical surveillance, mandatory work-rest schedules; providing agricultural operations shaded rest areas, heat alert programmes and training awareness.
Capital availability: Availability of sufficient capital to fund process upgrades, fuel switching and changes in agricultural practices underpins the transition to a lower-carbon economy. Limited or delayed access to financing could constrain the pace and scale of implementation and delivery timelines.
Infrastructure availability: The availability of required infrastructure such as specialised machinery, upgraded facilities and field availability deployable at the necessary scale is a key assumption in delivering the transition to a lower-carbon economy. Constraints in this could slow implementation or increase costs.
Government regulation: ABF Sugar recognises the evolving complexity of regulatory environments at national, regional and global levels. Dedicated teams across the organisation continuously monitor these developments to ensure relevant changes and their potential impacts are incorporated into the transition plan as appropriate.
Innovation gap: ABF Sugar’s current transition plan targets areas where meaningful difference can be made. However, ABF Sugar continues to explore decarbonisation potential in other levers. A number of these are hindered by gaps in technology.
Per the following roadmap, ABF Sugar has a strong pipeline of accretive GHG decarbonisation priorities. This list highlights areas of focus by the business.
British Sugar's factory at Wissington, UK
