The 2ZERO20 pledge to remove black plastic packaging initiative, community support programme and waste reduction programmes were among the key reasons that saw Brakes, the UK’s leading foodservice supplier, scoop the Sustainable Supplier of the Year at the 2020 Footprint Awards, for the second consecutive year.

The judges praised Brakes’ holistic approach to CSR as it retained the award it first won in 2019.

Janice Rockwell, CSR lead at Brakes, said: “Winning this prestigious award for the second year running highlights how integral CSR has become to our business.  Our CSR Council is drawn from across the business and puts the microscope on every aspect of our business as we look to continuously improve what we do.

“While we’ve taken the lead and driven the sustainability agenda through our own initiatives, working in partnership with our suppliers, including packaging, transport and waste, we would welcome the industry working together as that’s how we will gain maximum environmental benefit and create long-term change.”

In alignment with parent company, Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice distributor, Brakes strives to deliver superior products and services to customers in a way that balances the needs of people, products and planet.  This approach was central to Brakes’ success at the Footprint Awards, with judges recognising initiatives that included:

• Brakes 2ZERO20 campaign, which saw the company remove all hard-to-recycle black plastics from its supply chain, equating to more than 1,000 tonnes a year.
• The roll out of a new refrigeration system to smaller depots, saving 225 tonnes of carbon
• Becoming the first wholesaler to offer RSPO-accredited palm oil products
• Initiatives to reduce waste and improve recycling across the business.

Collecting the award on behalf of Brakes, CSR Council Member, Tori Hickson, said: “All our colleagues will be so proud that we’ve retained this hugely meaningful award, and that in such a difficult year we never reduced our focus on our CSR goals.”