Oakland Environmental
Since Oakland International was founded in 1998, caring for our people, reducing our environmental impact and supporting our communities have been at the heart of everything we do.
Today, that commitment is more important than ever. The UK food supply chain has a vital role in helping achieve the Government’s net zero ambition by 2050. At Oakland, we are determined not just to contribute, but to lead by example.
Established in 2011, Oakland Environmental Ltd is the Oakland Group’s sustainability division, driving environmental initiatives that support our journey to net zero by 2040.
Our Goal: Net Zero by 2040
We have made a series of commitments to guide and accelerate our journey to net zero:
• We are signatories to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Business Ambition for 1.5˚C campaign and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Race to Zero campaign.
• We commission an independent annual assessment of our full-scope carbon footprint, with results published in our sustainability reports.
• We are working towards making our Redditch headquarters off-grid by 2029.
• We are working with SDG Ltd to assess our contributions towards all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering the full breadth of sustainability.
Environmental Initiatives
Renewable Energy
• All UK depots are powered by 100% renewable electricity through a combination of on-site solar generation and verified renewable energy purchases.
• Our solar installations across Redditch, Bardon, Corby and Knottingley exceed 2.24 MWp in capacity and generated 1.96 million kWh of electricity in 2025.
• This transition has significantly reduced our Scope 2 emissions, which now account for only a small proportion of our overall carbon footprint.
Reed Bed Treatment
At our Redditch HQ, we operate a sustainable reed bed sewage treatment system. This treats wastewater from our site which reduces pressure on national water infrastructure.
Fleet
• Our trailer fleet is equipped with Eco-Drive technology, reducing the diesel required to power refrigeration units by utilising vehicle Power Take-Off (PTO)
• Through our partnership with HIVED, we support 100% electric last-mile deliveries into London and have installed four eHGV charging points at our Redditch site.
Efficiency
Designed with sustainability and energy efficiency at its core, our latest depot in Knottingley incorporates:
• High-performance insulated wall panels, roofing and insulated strip curtains to reduce energy demand.
• Energy-efficient chillers with modern compressors and intelligent controls to maximise efficiency.
• An air-lock and rapid-roll shutter door to help maintain internal temperatures.
• LED lighting throughout the site to reduce electricity consumption.
Sustainable Employee Transport
To support more sustainable commuting, we offer:
• Fully electric and hybrid pool cars.
• An electric bike rental scheme.
• An EV leasing scheme, with access to subsidised charging.
Food Donations
We are committed to reducing food waste while ensuring surplus food reaches those who need it most. Through partnerships with local charities, we redistributed more than 73 million meals in 2025.
Our Next Steps: Five Strategic Pillars
Our five strategic pillars focus our efforts on the areas where we can achieve the greatest environmental benefits and create the most meaningful impact.
1. Fleet
Our fleet represent one of our greatest opportunities to reduce emissions as we progress towards net zero.
We are investigating investment in our own eHGVs and working with industry partners to help develop the charging infrastructure required to support eHGVs.
2. Packaging
We are committed to reducing unnecessary packaging and identifying opportunities to lower both environmental impact and cost.
We are conducting packaging reviews across our warehouses to identify opportunities for more efficient and sustainable packaging.
3. Renewables
Supporting our ambition to make Redditch HQ off-grid by 2029, we continue to explore opportunities to increase on-site renewable energy generation and storage.
This includes exploring technologies such as anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power (CHP) and battery storage.
4. Efficiency
We are continually looking for ways to improve energy efficiency across all our sites. Current areas of investigation include:
• Voltage optimisation technology.
• Employee awareness and training.
• Further improvements to building and equipment efficiency.
5. Waste
We are committed to reducing waste throughout our operations while continually increasing recycling and reuse opportunities.
We are working closely with customers to redistribute short-dates stock to charities, helping prevent good food from going to waste while supporting local communities.
- Visit our Oakland Foundation and Molly Ollys pages to see how we are working to support the communities in which we work, and live in.
