Angus Growers
Angus Growers started using SAC Consulting’s Agrecalc Carbon Calculator in 2013 and have done carbon audits every three years since then. SAC Consulting worked flexibly to expand understanding of where their emissions stem from and provide recommendations to reduce energy use and save money. Using the standard Agrecalc Carbon Calculator, the biggest sources of carbon emissions during 2019 were shown to be electricity (27%), fuel (28%), and fertiliser (44%).
During the present wave of carbon audits, SAC Consulting is providing bespoke support by adding additional data to emissions calculations, which will allow the growers to understand the impact of inputs which are specific to soft fruits, including the use of coir or peat substrates and the plastics from their polytunnels.
Angus Soft Fruits
For Angus Soft Fruits, estimating the emissions associated with their own operations and their wider supply chain is crucial to support meeting their sustainability targets and contributing positively to the wider emissions reduction targets for Scotland and the UK.
Scope 3 are those emissions derived from the value chain. For example, where Angus Soft Fruits purchases berries from growers, the emissions associated with the primary production, processing and use of the food item are considered within scope 3. Most direct business emissions (scope 1) often come from vehicle use or on-site combustion. Scope 2 emissions refer to purchased energy, usually in the form of heat and electricity. It becomes increasingly more complex when companies begin to consider scope 3 emissions, and that is where our team of experts at SAC Consulting are finding ways to add value to customers by making this challenge easier to evaluate and
understand.
In 2021, Angus Soft Fruits and SAC Consulting began to look beyond the farm gate to measure the emissions associated with their packing facilities, international growers (in Egypt, Chile, and Morocco), and transport. This approach covered the life cycle of the soft fruits from farm to packhouse gate.
During the project, expertise from SAC Consulting has allowed Angus Soft Fruits to better understand their value chain emissions and focus reduction activities where they are needed. At their packhouse in Evesham, electricity use has been reduced by 8.4% since 2017, and automatic lighting controls with motion sensors, dimmable lights, and LEDs are being installed to further improve energy efficiency. Longer term plans to reduce scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions include solar panels, efficient use of compressed air, electric vehicles, and the use of low GHG refrigerants.
Catherine Russell from Angus Soft Fruits said: “The team at SAC Consulting have been really accommodating to tailor the support to our exact needs and create even more value within our emissions calculations with their expertise. For example, we are using the data and advice from Agrecalc to create a GHG emissions reduction roadmap which includes renewable energy, efficient fertiliser use, water management, efficient chilling, and exploring new technologies like electric and hydrogen vehicles. Our customers expect us to maintain a clear focus on emissions reduction and with the baselines we now have, we can clearly show where our emissions are coming from and how we’re taking steps to reduce them. We are delighted to be making such great progress towards our target of reaching 50% reduction in UK carbon emissions by 2030.”
