This September, we’re launching Sustainable September, a month-long initiative that puts sustainability at the heart of our content and company culture. Across our editorial portfolio, we’re placing greater emphasis than ever on climate-smart solutions, spotlighting brand innovations, industry reports, and stories that drive positive environmental impact in the food and drink sector.
Internally, we’re running company-wide campaigns that encourage eco-friendly habits – from sustainable travel, digital use, and event planning to waste reduction and responsible consumption. Sustainable September is a movement that aligns with our commitment to sustainability and supports us to embed long-lasting sustainable practices across our global footprint.
At William Reed, sustainability is central to how we operate and how we support the food and drink industry. As a trusted voice for over 160 years, we recognise the urgent need to reduce our environmental impact and help others do the same.
Our purpose goes beyond delivering outstanding content through events, digital, data and insight, we have a responsibility to our people, our partners, our communities, and the planet. That’s why we’ve developed a company-wide sustainability strategy focused on measurable action, credible targets, and continuous improvement.
In 2024, we launched our global Sustainability Framework, built around three core pillars; Planet, Influence, and Company. These guide our efforts to reduce emissions, manage climate-related risks, and identify opportunities to support the transition to a net zero economy.
Our Three Pillars:
Planet: Minimising our environmental footprint
Our climate strategy begins with understanding our impact. Following initial measurement, we identified that the majority of our emissions fall under Scope 3. Working with expert partners, we see key areas for reduction across all three scopes and are acting by switching to renewable electricity, installing EV charging points, and reducing the impact of our digital footprint.
As a committed signatory of the PPA’s Net Zero Action Pathway, we’re actively contributing to the decarbonisation of the media industry, with a long-term goal to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.
Beyond emissions, we’re focused on reducing resource use and waste across our operations. Initiatives like paperless events, led by brands such as 50 Best, and the work of our internal Green Team are helping embed environmental responsibility into our culture. From recycling stations in our offices and exploring more sustainable packaging to encouraging low-carbon travel, we’re committed to making sustainability part of everyday business.
Influence: Using our influence to drive industry-wide change
As a leading voice in the food and drink sector, William Reed reaches millions of professionals every month through its brands, platforms, and events. We use this influence to spotlight sustainability, wellbeing, and diversity, sharing insights that inspire action and support better practices across the industry.
Editorial independence and diverse perspectives are central to our approach. We invite expert contributors, host internal workshops, and ensure each brand maintains its unique voice. Beyond our content, we actively participate in industry-wide initiatives such as the PPA’s Action Net Zero Pathway and the diversity in Grocery programme, as well as supporting charitable programmes that strengthen the sector.
We uphold responsible communication and data practices, with GDPR compliance and a certified privacy framework that reflects our commitment to transparency and trust.
Company: Embedding sustainability into our culture and operations
We’re focused on supporting our people and our partners – from employee wellbeing to ethical sourcing and positive local impact. Sustainability isn’t a side initiative; it’s woven into how we operate, develop services, and build relationships across our supply chain.
William Reed always has and will prioritise best business practises. Supporting our staff in a holistic way – their physical, mental and social health – is a thread that runs throughout our business operations.
Our commitment extends beyond our workforce. We work with ethical partners, support local communities through volunteering and charitable giving, and ensure our events create positive local impact. From fair tax practices to responsible sourcing and data protection, we’re focused on being a business that leads with integrity and purpose.
This three-part framework is just the beginning. Our next steps in this area are to set achievable, credible targets and outline the actions to achieve them. While work continues to calculate a baseline of our full carbon footprint, from which to set science-based targets, we’ve set near-term targets across key business functions, applicable from FY25 onward, and will review them annually to ensure they remain ambitious and relevant.
From managing our direct emissions, to engaging with partners across the value chain, adopting a nature-positive approach to business operations and being an influential voice within a vital sector, William Reed has a key role to play.