In this episode of "Oh For Foods Sake," we are joined by Fran Haycock, Head of Sustainability at Greencore, to explore the dynamic role of sustainability in modern businesses. Fran delves into the transformation from traditional compliance-driven roles to leadership positions that focus on driving significant changes, such as the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). She discusses Greencore's innovative sustainability strategy, emphasising the importance of decentralisation, plan ownership, and the critical role of upskilling leaders across departments. The conversation also touches on the challenges and triumphs of balancing compliance and change management in sustainability, detailing the strides Greencore has made in reducing Scope 3 emissions, particularly in product recipe design changes, and the importance of consumer education. Fran shares her journey into sustainability, highlighting her background in economics, finance, and change management, and offers valuable insights for anyone interested in pursuing a career in sustainability.
In our chat with Fran Haycock, we unravel how businesses are shifting their sustainability approaches to embrace transformation leadership roles. Fran explains the increasing need for CSOs to spearhead rapid transformation programs while balancing compliance elements. This dual focus often leads to structural changes within organisations, as seen in Greencore’s internal restructuring, which involved downsizing and decentralising sustainability efforts. A pivotal part of Greencore’s new strategy is the "plan ownership model," where leaders from different departments champion various sustainability topics with strong executive support. Despite initial resistance and the necessity for leader upskilling, this model has shown positive results, particularly in the last few months.
We dive deep into the specifics of managing and reducing Scope 3 emissions, especially the challenges posed by product ingredients and packaging. Fran illustrates these points with an example of a chicken and bacon sandwich and discusses the complexities of implementing recipe changes due to retailer control and consumer preferences. The discussion emphasises the need for ongoing consumer education on the carbon impact of products and the intersection of health and sustainability goals.
Fran also highlights the importance of supporting sustainability leaders and newcomers, debunking the myth that specific backgrounds are required to enter the field. Her personal journey from finance and change management to sustainability underscores the value of transferable skills. The episode concludes with a reflection on future targets, including responsible sourcing of soy and cage-free eggs, and preparing for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
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