Punch targets ‘world’s goals’ with new sustainability report

23-May-2023 - Last updated on 23-May-2023 at 09:20 GMT

Punch pledge: a new report from the pubco is targeting a more sustainable future starting at a local level

Punch Pubs & Co has strengthened its sustainability credentials with the launch of its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report – Punch Promise – with the aim of “helping its pubs to contribute towards the world’s goals, albeit at a local level”.

Punch Promise highlights the business’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices and is part of the company’s ‘Doing Well, By Doing Good’ programme, which is underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The business has identified four SDGs it deems are most relevant and has set ambitious commitments and targets to tackle these.

Physical and mental wellbeing

The SDGs are part of the largest and best-understood framework, adopted by more than 80% of leading businesses and include:

• Good health and wellbeing – aimed at promoting and enabling both physical and mental wellbeing, ensuring Punch is a great place to work and encourages the communities that it serves to consider health choices.

• Affordable and clean energy – aimed at accelerating the transition to clean energy.

• Decent work and economic growth – ensuring good working conditions while supporting sustainable economic growth.

• Responsible consumption and production – a focus on achieving zero waste to landfill, educating and supporting suppliers on sustainable choices, and achieving net zero by the end of 2040, aligned to the science-based targets initiative.

Push the Pineapple

Punch said it has already taken significant steps towards reducing its carbon emissions and has introduced innovative employee mental health, diversity and inclusion programmes as part of its ‘Push the Pineapple’ initiative.

The team has also developed relevant strategic partnerships, implemented energy audits/saving solutions and a behaviour change programme, as well as starting to roll out smart metering, parcel lockers and electric vehicle charging points across their pub portfolio.

Punch chief executive officer Clive Chesser said: “We’re on an exciting journey and ongoing collaboration with our employees, publicans, management partners and suppliers is helping to make our business and, in turn, their businesses, more ethical and environmentally friendly for the benefit of our guests and the communities that we serve.

“We are focused on offering safe and supportive spaces that provide reasons for people to visit while having a positive impact on society.”