Subway Introduces New Fresh CSR Agenda and Encourages Guests to ‘Choose to Refuse’ Single Use Plastic Packaging

Subway steps up its ambition to serve guests sustainably, source responsibly and re-enforces its commitment to support local communities

Today, Subway unveiled a new ‘Fresh CSR Agenda’ across the UK and Ireland to support its owner-operated franchise business growth strategy, and reflect the areas where it is seeking to take positive action as a leading quick service restaurant brand across the region. Since opening its first US store in 1965, Subway has grown into a global business with a franchised network of approximately 5,500 stores in 36 countries across Europe.

Subway’s ‘Fresh CSR Agenda’ sets out its priorities, which are underpinned by policies and programmes that steer progress, for all European markets. It is built around three key pillars and encompasses a range of issues, challenges and opportunities for the brand and its franchise owners and supply chain partners: Sourcing Responsibly, which covers supply chain and animal welfare practices; Serving Guests Sustainably, which includes reviewing the use of proprietary single use packaging and raising the nutritional quality of products and Supporting Communities, by generating prosperity through purchasing, employment and commercial activity, including supporting community and charity initiatives.

Through its ‘Fresh CSR Agenda’, Subway’s ambition is to strengthen the contributions it makes as a company. This is increasingly important for guests across the UK and Ireland, as they look for businesses that act in ways that are good for them, better for the environment and valuable to society. Concern over plastic waste and its environmental impact is growing rapidly across the UK and Ireland. Subway is stepping up its programme, to refine its proprietary packaging in efficient ways to protect products and minimise waste. It is working towards reducing proprietary single use plastics within its restaurants and more widely across company operations.

An area the brand has invested in is creating new paper-based packaging as part of its wider business growth in home and office third party delivery, to ensure the product reaches guests in perfect condition. These factors enable guests to reduce the waste they create in their daily lives and the impact of the business on the environment, promoting a more circular economy.