ClimatePartner helps LEON deliver first carbon neutral burger

Restaurant brand LEON is the first fast food brand to serve a carbon-neutral burger and fries range in its restaurants and is an important step for LEON as it aims to reach net zero by 2030.

With the help of climate consultancy, ClimatePartner, LEON is measuring the CO₂emissions from the whole supply chain which includes all its ingredients, packaging and waste, as well as emissions from food preparation in their kitchens in order to derive a carbon footprint for each burger. With LEON already using 100% green electricity in its kitchens, any other carbon hotspots had to be identified and quantified to correctly estimate the amount of carbon that would need to be offset to claim neutrality.

The carbon neutral dishes include the new Crispy Chicken Parm and Vegan Sweet Carolina BBQ burgers, as well as the new recipe LOVe Burger, Fish Finger Burger and Chargrilled Chicken Burgers, and their baked waffle fries. LEON’s popular LOVe burger is now made with a new recipe pea protein patty from plant based producer Meatless Farm, which has also helped the menu item have a lower impact.

The carbon footprint of these menu items will be offset with rainforest conservation projects in South America, as well as a progressive new afforestation project in the UK.

“It’s a real privilege to be supporting such a values-driven brand on their sustainability journey, taking concrete climate action today”, said Emilien Hoet, Head of ClimatePartner UK. “Enabling their customers to make more sustainable menu choices is very much a first step of a holistic sustainability strategy. For LEON to achieve climate neutrality for its most material menu items amidst a pandemic that has severely affected the restaurant industry sends a strong message that tackling climate change is everyone’s responsibility.”

“Agriculture is one of the hard to decarbonise sectors and yet essential to our very survival”, Hoet continued. “Making our food carbon neutral is imperative to helping us fight climate change. It’s important that in addition to measuring and reducing carbon emissions, we also take responsibility for the unavoidable, residual emissions, through offsetting.”