Best Sustainable Pub Company winner, sponsored by Sky: Mitchells & Butlers

But through its impressive sustainability strategy, which includes stretching targets, the company is helping to lead the charge on sustainability action in the hospitality industry, setting a great example to operators big and small through its progressive initiatives, investment and plans to help it achieve its sustainability goals.

Its collaborative approach also includes being part of industry organisations such as the Zero Carbon Forum, which it co-founded in 2020.

Strong progress

Judges were impressed with the strong progress M&B has made in key focus areas around sustainability, demonstrating excellent drive to deliver its targets, and also how leaders are engraining a more sustainable way of working across all levels of the business, with a ‘how’ not ‘if’ culture. How M&B is measuring its progress, including the company committing to long-term Science Based Target Initiative targets, was also highlighted for praise by judges.

Among standout initiatives are the company’s network of energy ambassadors, introduced in 2020, which sees team members conduct energy audits within a given district of sites to help support behavioural change, which has not had a positive impact on energy savings but has added an interesting new dimension to staff roles.

Significant investment

Its sustainable equipment programme, where previously redundant kit is assessed, stored, cleaned, tested, and serviced for use elsewhere, has seen kit filling the length of over 15 football pitches saved from landfill.

Significant investment in new technologies and innovations, which are being adopted across the company to help achieve its goals, including renewable energies and solar PV and the inroads made towards the decarbonisation of its estate also impressed.

M&B’s bold consumer trial in two brands of low emission dishes on menus, which delivered a significant emission reduction was also applauded by judges, as was its strong community initiatives, including partnerships with Social Bite, Shelter and Too Good To Go.