Toast Ale sustainability score: 57/100

Toast reports 187 tCO2e (2024) with granular breakdown: ingredients 22%, packaging 56%, distribution 12%, brewing 7%, office/travel 1%. ClimatePartner audited against GHG Protocol standards. No formal limited/reasonable assurance. Scope 1 and 2 negligible at ~1% total.

Toast quantifies 99.9% Scope 3 emissions (187 tCO2e, 2024) using specific emission factors per ingredient. Sources 75% malt from Crisp's regenerative UK barley farms; uses UK hops. Spent grain to animal feed, spent hops to compost. No formal supplier emissions reduction targets.

2022: 215 tCO2e → 2023: 150 tCO2e (−30%) → 2024: 187 tCO2e (+25%). Trajectory inconsistent despite 82% Scope 3 reduction target and Net Zero 2030 commitment. Year-on-year rebound undermines credibility of targets.

Toast is asset-light (office + contract brewing). Direct energy use negligible (~1% emissions). No disclosure of green tariff, renewable procurement, or Curious Brewery's energy source. No formal renewable energy strategy identified.

Partners with Soil Heroes Foundation for UK regenerative agriculture (no-till, cover crops, wildflower margins). Funded Rainforest Trust UK (3.25M trees protected), Plantlife, Food Heroes Fund. 75% malt from regenerative farms reduces agricultural pressure. No TNFD-aligned disclosure.

Surplus bread replaces 25% malted barley; 3.9M slices upcycled to date. Spent grain to farmers for feed, spent hops composted. Shifted to aluminium cans (65% lower carbon) and kegs (80% lower than bottles). Open-sources recipe across 62+ breweries globally. No quantified circularity targets.

Claims 260,000 litres water saved via reduced barley demand. Wastewater treated to ensure returned quality exceeds intake. No published water consumption metrics (litres per litre beer, annual total). Methodology and monitoring not disclosed.

Net Zero 2030 target with 82% Scope 3 reduction by 2030, both self-set and unvalidated. Reduction-first approach (packaging, suppliers) with ClimatePartner offsets and regenerative agriculture investment. No SBTi validation sought; company likely below corporate threshold.

B Corp certified (125.5/200, highest UK brewery); recertified twice since 2018. Articles mandate all profit donation to charity; co-founder holds Golden Share protecting mission. Equity for Good requires shareholder capital gains reinvestment. Registered Social Enterprise; 2021 Queen's Award for Sustainable Development. Annual impact reports published.

No greenwashing allegations, regulatory actions, or fines found. Co-founder stated deliberate caution against misleading environmental claims. Active positive climate advocacy via Business Declares and Better Business Act. No misaligned trade association lobbying identified.