Sustainability Initiatives

At McLay’s, we are committed to building a more sustainable future by embedding environmental and social responsibility into everything we do. From reducing our carbon footprint to minimising waste and supporting responsible sourcing, sustainability is at the heart of our operations. Our ongoing initiatives are designed not only to protect the planet but also to create long-term value for our customers, employees, and the wider community.

We have recently partnered with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Step Up to Net Zero Programme’, working closely with them to create a bespoke action plan to achieve our Net Zero, Circular, and Waste goals. 

mclays sustainability journey

Lowering Carbon Emissions

mclays van

  • Source locally wherever possible to reduce environmental impact.

  • Eco Stars membership since 2019, which shows long-term commitment to sustainable transport and fleet efficiency.

  • Optimised delivery routes with Pod Father software to reduce food miles and CO2 emissions.

  • Entire fleet Euro 6 compliant; NOx emissions reduced by 80%, particulates by 50%.

  • Participated in Edinburgh Climate Springboard’s Net Zero Programme (2023) – a six-week initiative focused on the latest best practices for reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainability targets.

  • Planning to introduce electric delivery vehicles by 2026.

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Scope 1, 2 & 3 Emissions

Scope 1

Scope 1 Emissions are our direct greenhouse gas emissions that are owned by us, either on site or from our company vehicles. We have therefore calculated the CO2e of our gas, van fleet, and refrigerants (Total = 511.5t CO2e). 

Scope 2

Scope 2 Emissions are our indirect greenhouse gas emissions, which are generated from the consumption of where purchased electricity is produced (Total = 74.6t CO2e). 

The donut diagrams are to scale, and you can see that our Scope 2 Emissions are considerably lower than our Scope 1. 

Scope 3

Scope 3 Emissions are the indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in a company’s value chain, but not included in our Scope 1 & 2 Emissions. We are aiming to have these measured in the coming months, with the goal to reduce the emissions from our supply chain.

emissions

Reducing Food Waste

    • Partnered with Too Good To Go, preventing over 100kg of food waste per week and ensuring surplus produce is eaten, not wasted.

    • Donations of surplus produce to local food banks to reach families in need rather than landfill. We also have a partnership with Pyramid at Anderston where we make weekly food donations for redistribution through their Community Shop.

    • Reducing waste through flexible pack sizes and strict date monitoring, so customers only order what they’ll use.

    • Promoting whole-ingredient cooking, encouraging the use of bones, trimmings, and edible plant parts to minimise food waste.

Packaging & Waste Reduction

  • Deliver to select key institutions on the APUC framework in reusable plastic trays, saving up to 250 cardboard boxes per customer weekly. Our goal is to deliver all goods in these baskets by December 2026.

  • Only clear, fully recyclable plastics used; black plastics avoided.

  • Biodegradable packaging trials underway, with plastic-free options available where feasible.

  • Wax-lined boxes and vacuum packs extend shelf life and reduce food waste.

  • Invested in a general waste compactor and expanded recycling to include cardboard, paper, plastics, wood, reducing general waste collections.
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Educating & Spreading Awareness

  • Provide CO2e footprint for all products to help institutions track sustainability.

  • Share seasonality charts and supply chain insights to reduce food miles and costs.

  • All employees trained in environmental procedures, ongoing refreshers provided.

  • Staff encouraged to cycle to work; bike racks, showers, and EV charging points installed.

  • Awareness initiatives ensure energy efficiency, proper recycling, and sustainable practices on site.