SUSTAINABILITY AT BAKERS DELIGHT

Rising to the occasion

From local farms, to our bakeries, to your table, we’re working to reduce waste, cut emissions and nourish local communities – one delicious loaf at a time. We’re doing our part by exploring innovative baking methods and more efficient technology, working closely with local farmers and producers, supporting community programs and embracing sustainable practices.

Our 2030 Goals

Our goal is to achieve a 30% reduction in scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissionsby 2030 from our 2024 baseline. We will achieve this goal through:

Reducing food waste to landfill

Diverting 80% of food waste from going to landfill

Supplier
engagement

Increase the proportion of suppliers with an emissions reduction target

Oven upgrade
program

Upgrading to more energy efficient ovens across the network

Waste
optimisation

Investing in and implementing software to optimise production and reducing waste in our bakeries

How we reduce food waste

It’s not always easy to predict exactly how much to bake, after all, we never want our customers to miss out. But we’re also committed to ensuring our surplus doesn’t end up in landfill.

That’s why nearly 70% of our end-of-day surplus is donated to those in need via local charity partners. We’re also partnering with food waste innovators like Bardee who are converting food waste into protein and fertiliser, using insects. If you operate a charity and would like to help us reduce waste, please contact your local Bakers Delight.

Food rescue with Too Good To Go & Foody Bag

We hate to see good bread go to waste. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Too Good To Go and Foody Bag (WA only) – two platforms rescuing unsold food. Each evening, customers can grab our leftover bread and pastries at a reduced price through either app. It’s a simple way to enjoy fresh baked goods while cutting food waste. In fact, within the first year of our partnership with Too Good To Go, we rescued 695 tonnes of bread from landfill. Now that’s a great way to make every bite count!
Too Good To Go app Foody Bag app

Packaging initiatives

We’re working to reduce the environmental impact of our packaging through better materials, recycled content and reuse:

  • Switching to cardboard bread tags has helped us eliminate an average of 34 million plastic tags from our network of bakeries each year

  • Our paper bags are made from 100% recycled materials

  • We encourage customers to bring reusable bread bags and carry bags to our bakeries, but also offer paper carry bags (recycled of course) when required

  • Our ongoing trials of alternatives to virgin plastic in bread bags are helping us find a better solution

Check with your council to see if they collect soft plastics like our bread bags for recycling. For a reusable option, consider Think4Earth.

Ways to reduce food waste at home

Despite our best efforts, sometimes bread isn’t eaten in time. Here’s how to waste less:

  • Freeze bread if you won’t finish it.

  • If frozen, defrost at room temperature for a few hours, or warm in the oven at 160°C for 5–10 minutes. Alternatively, you can toast slices straight from frozen using your toaster’s defrost button

  • If offered by your council, put bread in your FOGO bin to keep waste out of landfill and create compost

  • Turn leftover bread into breadcrumbs, desserts or other recipes, check out our easy recipe ideas

Make every crumb count with Saveful

We’ve teamed up with Saveful, the smart app that helps you turn leftover ingredients, like our fresh bread and rolls, into delicious, waste-free meals. Save time, save money, and reduce food waste, one slice at a time.

Download Saveful today and start cooking more sustainably with Bakers Delight.

 Download Saveful app

Our suppliers

Bakers Delight is proudly 100% Australian-owned and operated. We’re committed to supporting local industries and have built long-standing relationships with trusted suppliers across the country. These partnerships reflect our commitment to quality, sustainability, and supporting Australian businesses.

Manildra Group

An Australian family-owned company that sources and mills our wheat from Australian farms. As a founding member of the collaborative Cool Soil Initiative (CSI), Manildra Group is supporting Australian wheat farming families to better understand and reduce on-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including climate smart agricultural practices. Learn more about Manildra’s sustainability commitments.

Fonterra

We source our dairy ingredients from the Fonterra Co-operative, which is actively working to reduce emissions and meet ambitious sustainability goals. Their 2030 commitment to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50.4% is helping us to reach our own 2030 goals faster. Read more onFonterra sustainability.

Don KRC (George Weston Foods)

Our small goods are supplied by their Castlemaine site in Victoria, supporting local production and responsible practices. Don recently embarked on an updated energy supply strategy that could cut their total emissions by 40%. Discover more about GWF social responsibility.

Star Group

Our packaging partners, Star Group are an Australian family-owned business that is dedicated to creating a positive environmental and social impact. As a LowCO2 and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-C212862) certified business, Star Group are helping to drive our journey to packaging circularity. Find out more.

Sustainability FAQs

What is Bakers Delight doing to reduce the amount of single use plastic in bakeries?

Bakers Delight no longer offers plastic carry bags. Customers can purchase paper carry bags or tote bags.

Bakers Delight acknowledges there is work to be done to reduce the use of single-use plastic in bakeries. While we work on training around offering paper bags where possible, we still feel there is a place for plastic bags in our bakeries. Therefore, we continue to work with our suppliers on alternative plastic solutions to improve both the material specifications and the recyclability, as we still see this as an option to package our bread for shelf life and avoid food waste.

We have trialled selling reusable bread bags, and while they were not a viable option for our Network to continue (we will focus on baking and selling bread!), we now have a procedure for all bakeries to follow and to encourage customers to bring their own reusable bag/container, etc.
What makes a food product sustainable?

A sustainable food product is one that’s produced, packaged, and distributed in a way that minimises its environmental impact and supports long-term ecological balance. This can include:

  • Using locally sourced ingredients to reduce transportation emissions

  • Minimising waste through efficient production and donation of surplus

  • Using eco-friendly, recyclable, or compostable packaging

  • Reducing energy and water consumption during processing

  • Supporting fair trade and ethical labour practices

At Bakers Delight, sustainable food products are made using locally milled wheat, packaged with recycled or reusable materials, and distributed through partnerships that prevent unnecessary waste.
How can a bakery be sustainable?

A bakery can be sustainable by adopting practices that reduce environmental impact and support community wellbeing. Examples include:

  • Donating surplus food to charities instead of sending it to landfill

  • Using eco-friendly packaging, such as recycled paper bags or reusable bread bags

  • Sourcing local ingredients to reduce carbon emissions from transport

  • Reducing single-use plastics, like switching to cardboard bread tags

  • Partnering with food rescue and food waste reduction initiatives, such as Saveful, Too Good To Go and Foody Bag

Bakers Delight implements all these strategies as part of our long-term sustainability commitments.
Why is it important to reduce food waste?

Reducing food waste is crucial for both environmental and social reasons:

  • Environmental impact: Food waste generates methane in landfills, which are a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing waste helps lower emissions and conserve resources used in food production (like water, energy, and land).

  • Economic benefit: Wasted food equals wasted money. By making use of leftovers and managing consumption, households and businesses save money.

  • Social good: Redistributing surplus food helps support people in need, reducing hunger and supporting community wellbeing.

Bakers Delight reduces food waste by donating leftover bread, turning waste into animal feed or fertiliser, and helping customers reduce waste at home with practical tips and recipes.

The Bakers Delight Community

About Bakers Delight
About Bakers Delight

What we do is nice and simple, it’s freshly baked bread! Since 1980, we’ve been committed to delighting our customers and being pillars of our communities.

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Our Community
Our Community

Bakers Delight is Australia’s favourite bakery franchise and you can share in a slice of the success.

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Store Locator

We’ve been baking the same way for over 45 years to give you our signature delightful experience.

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