Greenfood is permeated in several ways by sustainability and active climate work. For several years, ZeroMission has worked with climate accounts for Greenfood and most recently we have also supported their process of setting science-based goals according to Science Based Targets. We asked Lisa Isakson, Head of Communication and Sustainability at Greenfood, a few questions about this.

Why did you choose to set Science Based Targets?

We are proud of our strong commitment to sustainability and our ongoing efforts to promote a greener and healthier future. Our ambitions are long-term and an important major step in our sustainability journey is to work towards the changes needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. This is why we choose to set targets in line with the Science Based Targets Initiative. We are convinced that our approved Science Based Targets will further strengthen our sustainability efforts and help us clarify the journey towards a more sustainable business.

Why you chose to use ZeroMission for the validation process?

We have very talented people in Greenfood's sustainability team who are good at climate calculations, analyzing data and setting climate targets. At the same time, we are a large organization, limited resources, we wanted speed in the SBTi process and a lot of data collected and analyzed. We wanted an external partner to support us at the end of the process, both in terms of guiding us when needed and challenging us in our assumptions. ZeroMission has been a partner to us for several years and our collaboration has always been good. Therefore, it was natural to develop our collaboration further to include support in our SBTi project.

How did you experience the support from ZeroMission?

Our cooperation was great! I think we had the absolute worst time for the revision - July! Exactly the time when most people in our organization are on vacation. Nevertheless, ZeroMission was available and helped us even during that time. We got all the valuable help and support we needed to keep up the momentum and answer incoming questions from the SBTi team.

Now that the application has been approved, what is the significance of the target for ongoing climate work and activities in general?

Getting our targets approved is very valuable. It creates both pride within the organization as this is a confirmation that we have an ambitious sustainability agenda, but it also drives us further and strengthens our sustainability work. Not only for us, but for both partners and customers. But the big thing is not actually getting the targets approved, it's the work that needs to be done to reach them. It's a journey I look forward to, demanding but rewarding. 

Any final comments or tips for others interested in setting Science Based Targets?

Setting SBTi targets is a very valuable process. It drives the business forward, both in terms of attention to sustainability and understanding why it is critical to future success, but we also need more companies to join the initiative, so my advice is: just do it. It's a win-win, for the company itself (competitiveness, creates employee engagement etc) and of course for the planet.

Greenfood in brief

Greenfood Group is one of the Nordic region's leading groups in fresh healthy food, with a history stretching back 50 years. The group has a turnover of SEK 5.2 billion and operates in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain and the USA. The business is broad and with our three business areas, Greenfood is involved in most of the food chain - from processing and delivery to the moment when the consumer puts the fork in his mouth. Greenfood's offering includes fresh fruit & vegetables, pre-cut and washed products, salads, vegan products, sandwiches, wraps and other grab'n'go products, and the Picadeli salad bar concept. Its main customers are some of the leading companies in the grocery, convenience and HoReCa sectors. Read more about Greenfood's sustainability work at www.greenfood.se.