The responsible choice for UK
agriculture
What is the Responsible Choice?
We operate responsibly. This ethos is underpinned by our company values of integrity, customer first and expertise and communicated through our Responsible Choice framework. This guides our decision-making and behaviour in five areas: people, production, partnership, planet and prosperity. These areas are aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and cover many key environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics that we embrace as a business and for our stakeholders. Being the responsible choice for UK agriculture encourages us to think ahead and build future resilience.
Our 5 pillars of Responsible Choice
People
Partnership
Planet
Production
Prosperity
People
Partnership
Planet
Production
Prosperity
Respecting people across all our interactions
We raise safety standards in one of the highest risk industries in the UK; health and safety is our number one priority. We empower our people to take a 'stop, think, be safe' approach in all of their interactions and we celebrate high safety standards through a programme of colleague awards.Keeping people safe also means looking after their mental health and wellbeing, as well as treating them fairly and equitably. Our growing employee-led support groups, learning and development opportunities and employee 'listening strategy' demonstrate our commitment to better understanding our people, investing in them and charting rewarding career paths. Learn more
We make a positive social impact in the community. Our employee fund-matching scheme supports personal causes, and we champion the important role of agriculture in society. Our national sponsorships include a proud partnership with Open Farm Sunday, school visit programmes and cross-industry campaigns such as Farmers Weekly's 'Level the Field' and 'Transition' initiatives.
Connecting supply chain partners
From farmers looking to improve sustainable farming practices to multi-national food and drink manufacturers looking to meet specific ESG goals, we bring together our supply chain networks to strengthen partnerships and drive innovation to advance agriculture; at all levels.We facilitate industry leading grower groups and through our sustainable partnership programmes we foster open relationships that strengthen food supply security and enable knowledge-sharing. Close collaboration with funders across both the private and public sectors means we can also support farmers to navigate new commercial opportunities.
Working responsibly to reduce environmental impacts
Our goal is set. We aim to reduce carbon emissions within our direct operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 59% by 2034 against a 2021 baseline. We update our progress each year in our Annual Report and Accounts.Examples of this in action include using solar-generated electricity to power our operations, investment in a more efficient fleet and grain dryers, and evaluating options like low-carbon fuel sources.
We're focused on waste reduction. We promote the use of intermediate bulk containers, closed transfer systems and bulk tank deliveries that improve operator safety, less plastic use and a lower risk of agrochemical spillage.
Helping to build resilient farming systems
Balancing crop production and environmental land management in the right way is vital for future farm productivity, profitability and sustainability. We work with UK growers to take a 'whole-farm' approach, optimising production with a reduced environmental impact through our diverse portfolio of products and services designed to support sustainable growth.Our continued investment in technology helps our customers to measure and adapt all aspects of crop production, providing them with the insights to make decisions that improve productivity and performance.
Growers are always looking at ways to add value and manage risk. As well as being a trusted grain marketing partner, we explore the ways private and public funding can be blended to deliver more sustainable practices, helping our customers to realise the full potential of their land.
Demonstrating responsible leadership and investment
We are committed to doing the right thing for our business and industry – today and in the future. We operate transparently, generate profit responsibly and use our voice to create a better future for agriculture.We maintain the highest standard of governance and stay close to ESG priorities. We monitor current and emerging compliance requirements and routinely review and prioritise strategies to mitigate risks.
We actively engage with leading industry bodies and assurance schemes, including Government departments such as Defra to ensure the practicalities of sustainable farming and environmental land management are considered wholly in any policies. We advocate regularly for our industry, working with trade organisations such as the NFU and AIC.