Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  September 10, 2024

Utz Brands Decreases Emissions by 17%

Utz Brands, Inc., a manufacturer of savory snacks, achieved a 16.6% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions. 

In 2024, the company established an environmental improvement strategy, identifying programs and processes to implement in the short, medium and long term for its goals, according to a statement.

Utz Brands also engaged with its three largest agricultural suppliers to begin to understand the extent of its Scope 3 emissions. The company intends to build on this foundation and extend GHG accounting to cover Scope 3 activities.

The report highlights the progress Utz made in lowering its carbon emissions through network optimization and more efficient distribution strategies, in minimizing food waste contributions to landfills, and through developing a comprehensive environmental policy.

In 2023, the company calculated its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions for the second year under the guidance of the ESG management team committee. The Scope 1 and 2 emissions were 90,194 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). The primary source of its Scope 1 emissions is natural gas combustion in manufacturing processes. 

As detailed in its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report, the company's Scope 2 emissions are due to its facilities’ electricity consumption. In 2023, Utz’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased by 16.6% compared to 2022 due to network optimization efforts. This included reducing the number of owned and operated plants from 16 at the beginning of the year to 13 at the end of the year.

In 2023, Utz’s total energy consumption was 477,671 megawatt hours (MWh). Of this, 81% was natural gas and 12% was electricity. Distribution and other mobile sources account for only 7%, as most of the distribution fleet is now outsourced to independent operators. Of the company’s electricity use, 98% was sourced from the grid. Additionally, 2% of electricity use was produced by its solar panels.