Foodsteps is a sustainability technology company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, specializing in environmental impact analysis and carbon labeling for the food industry. By equipping food businesses with data-rich tools for life cycle assessment and emissions tracking, Foodsteps empowers organizations to reduce their environmental footprint and enhance transparency for consumers.
Brief History
Founded in 2019 by Anya Doherty, Foodsteps emerged from academic research at the University of Cambridge focused on environmental food systems. The company was built to make complex sustainability data more accessible and actionable for food businesses, bridging the gap between climate science and practical food operations.
Core Business
Foodsteps operates as a SaaS and data services provider for food producers, retailers, and hospitality groups. Its cloud-based platform integrates environmental metrics into food product development, labeling, supply chain management, and corporate sustainability reporting.
Its core solutions include:
- Carbon footprint tracking and life cycle assessments (LCAs)
- Ingredient-level emissions database
- Consumer-facing carbon labels and storytelling tools
- Support for global ESG and regulatory compliance frameworks
Product and Service Offerings
Environmental Impact Platform
- Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) based on over 4,000 peer-reviewed sources
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions analysis
- Ingredient-level granularity
- Emission hotspot identification
Carbon Labels and FoodStories
- Traffic light-style carbon impact labels (A–E grades)
- QR-code enabled FoodStory pages detailing supply chain and sourcing
- Enhanced transparency for retail and hospitality menus
Data Analytics Tools
- Custom dashboard with portfolio-level impact overviews
- Forecasting of impact reduction strategies
- Benchmarking against category averages and best-in-class standards
Compliance Solutions
- Alignment with:
- Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Science-Based Targets initiative for Forest, Land and Agriculture (SBTi FLAG)
- Green Claims Code (UK)
- IFRS S2 climate-related disclosures
Specialisation and Core USP
Foodsteps’ key differentiators include:
- Ingredient-level carbon and environmental data, enabling highly granular emissions reporting
- Fully automated carbon label generation, updated with evolving supply chain data
- Consumer-engagement storytelling via the FoodStory feature
- Science-based data engine derived from ISO 14040-compliant LCA methodologies
Foodsteps is one of the few platforms offering both upstream (supply chain) and downstream (consumer-facing) sustainability tools in one ecosystem.
Financials
While Foodsteps is privately held, notable performance indicators include:
- Secured £3.8 million in seed funding in 2022 from investors including Octopus Ventures
- Partnered with over 150 food businesses by Q4 2023
- Recorded user growth of 4x year-on-year between 2022 and 2023
- Data platform now tracks over 100 million kg of food annually
Shipment and Export Data
As a digital platform, Foodsteps does not engage in physical shipments. However:
- Serves clients in 12+ countries across Europe and North America
- Collaborates with UK-based and multinational foodservice providers
- Platform supports multi-country impact reporting and compliance exports
Target Market
Foodsteps works with a diverse range of food industry players including:
- Food manufacturers and brands
- Retailers and supermarkets
- Restaurant and QSR chains
- Contract caterers and foodservice providers
- Sustainability and compliance officers
Key sectors include ready meals, fresh produce, bakery, dairy, and food-to-go.
Capabilities
- LCA model automation for rapid impact calculation
- API integrations with ERP and supply chain software
- Custom emission factor additions for proprietary supply chain inputs
- Branded and white-labeled label options
Certifications and Compliance
- LCA methodology aligned with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044
- Emissions database continuously updated via peer-reviewed literature
- Supports compliance with:
- SBTi FLAG and GHG Protocol
- UK Green Claims Code
- EU CSRD (2024 readiness)
Customer Testimonials
“Foodsteps allowed us to label 85% of our product range with verified carbon labels in under three months.”
— Sustainability Lead, UK Prepared Meals Brand
“With Foodsteps, we’ve reduced Scope 3 emissions intensity by 18% through better supplier decisions.”
— Head of ESG, National Food Retailer
Major Achievements
- Recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Food Systems Innovator (2023)
- Named in Sifted’s Top 100 European Sustainability Startups (2022)
- Selected by DEFRA and the UK government as a digital partner for voluntary carbon labeling trials
- Achieved 4.9/5 client satisfaction rating across enterprise engagements
- Helped clients reduce over 4,200 tonnes of CO2e in 2023 alone through reformulation strategies
Foodsteps stands at the intersection of climate science and food operations, offering cutting-edge digital solutions that enable food businesses to measure, communicate, and reduce their environmental impact with transparency and precision.
