Biffa CEO Michael Topham: Climate change action must not slip down the political agenda

Biffa has today warned against allowing climate change action to slip down the political agenda. 

Announcing a major step towards its own Net Zero targets alongside considerable business growth, Biffa welcomed the new Government’s early prioritisation of a circular economy - but stressed that the same commitment needed to apply for the wider journey to UK net zero. 

Last year Biffa completed several strategic acquisitions while continuing to reduce emissions – demonstrating that growth does not have to be a barrier to sustainability. 

The findings are published today in Biffa’s latest Sustainability Report, which showcases its progress towards its key sustainability and social value targets in 2023-24. 

Michael Topham, Biffa CEO, said: “Last year was another great year for Biffa. We continue to successfully execute our strategy and are making great progress towards our sustainability targets.   

“As a business Biffa has grown 49% in terms of revenue since 2019/20 and, during the same period, we have cut our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 37%, breaking the link between emissions and growth.

“Last year we extended our capabilities and expertise through the acquisition of companies excelling in different aspects of sustainable waste management. We will continue to build on this success, while navigating a year of change with the launch of critical new policies in the next 12 months. 

“Delivering system wide change across the UK also requires government to use the right policy levers to maximum effect. Last year saw further progress on waste and resource policy development and we welcome the early prioritisation of a circular economy by the new Government in Westminster.    

“This is also true of the wider UK journey to net zero. Effective action on climate change is slipping down the political agenda even as the global impacts of extreme weather become increasingly profound.  

“It has never been more important that people and organisations understand their roles and responsibilities in reducing emissions and ensuring a safe environment for future generations.” 

Several acquisitions enabled Biffa to take more vehicles off the road by making its collection routes more efficient. 

Preventing tens of thousands of tonnes of surplus from becoming waste by redistributing it through its network of Company Shop stores, increasing the number of alternative fuelled vehicles in its fleet and improving landfill gas capture, were among the other major contributors to Biffa’s ongoing reduction in emissions. 

Biffa also grew its annual plastics recycling capacity to 213,000 tonnes following the opening of a third HDPE line at its Redcar facility and the acquisition of the Sherburn food grade PET plant in North Yorkshire. Biffa has now met its goal of tripling its polymer processing capacity by 2025 and remains on course to quadruple it by 2030. 

Mr Topham added: “Our latest Sustainability Report highlights all the actions Biffa has taken in 2023/24 to further enable the UK circular economy and reduce carbon emissions, while positively impacting the communities in which we operate.  

“All this is only possible through the people and partners that help power Biffa. From our collections operatives serving communities every day, to our innovation partners investigating new ways to increase circularity, reduce waste, and recycle more.” 

Key Sustainability Report 2023-24 highlights include: 

Enabling the Circular Economy 

• Prevented over 45,000 tonnes of surplus from becoming waste, up from 41,445 tonnes in 2022-23 
• Redistributed over 107 million units of food and consumer items 
• Increased plastics recycling capacity to 213,000 tonnes, up from 167,000 tonnes in 2022-23 
• Collected 559,000 tonnes of business waste for recycling 

Tackling Climate Change 

• 100% renewable energy purchased  
• Improved collection route efficiency (lifts per km) by 9%  
• 158 alternative fuelled vehicles in collection fleet, up from 120 in 2022-23 
• Planning permission for 19.3MW of solar  

Caring for People & Communities 

• Lost time injury rate decreased to 0.29  
• Improvement in employee engagement scores for Health and Safety, Wellbeing and DE&I 
• Over 39,000 Company Shop members supported by Community Hubs  
• 685 Company Shop members moved into full or part time employment through Progress Academies