Levy CEO Jon Davies outlines how the sports and entertainment hospitality provider is taking major steps to minimise its carbon footprint, including engaging Earthshot Prize winning sustainable packaging provider Notpla to provide seaweed-based food packaging.

At Levy, we have long lived by the value of treating the planet and our people with fairness and respect. We genuinely believe that we can make real changes at scale within our business that can demonstrate a way forward for the hospitality industry to decarbonise and focus on the planet’s health without compromising the fan experience. With our key business taking place in many of Europe’s major music, sport, and entertainment venues, it’s our responsibility to work with our partners, and suppliers, to educate, implement, and embed long-term interventions that will have a lasting impact.

“The food industry accounts for a staggering 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions.”

The food industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for a staggering 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, by making simple dietary shifts, such as eating more plant-based, plant-forward, and seasonal foods, we could reduce these emissions by half. Our focus on emission reduction, health, and nature has guided our approach to implementing changes at our partner venues, ensuring a positive impact without compromising the consumer experience.

One such initiative is the development of our signature burger. By working closely with our culinary teams and butchers, we reduced the meat content by 50% and incorporated nutritious ingredients like kale, beans, and mushrooms. With over 1.5 million burgers served annually, this small change has a positive impact by reducing the carbon intensity and improving the nutritional value of our burgers. We also champion other sustainable ‘hero’ ingredients such as wild venison, rope-grown mussels and seaweed.

Another key area of focus, and one of our biggest successes has been strengthening our relationship with suppliers. I have personally visited more than 20 suppliers over the past three years and gained valuable insights into their sustainability practices and identified opportunities for collaboration. One such partnership is with Earthshot Prize winner, Notpla, a company that produces 100% plastic-free, seaweed-based biodegradable food packaging. By adopting this innovative solution, we aim to migrate 75 million items over the next three years, significantly reducing our reliance on single-use plastics.

Levy is committed to a sustainable future and will publish our first Climate Action Plan in 2025. However, we believe in taking action now, rather than waiting for a formal plan. We’ve already made significant strides in reducing our environmental impact and improving the sustainability of our operations.

By working together, we can create a more sustainable future for our planet and our people.

LinkedIn