Helping Modern Milkman measure a full-scope carbon footprint and build a data-backed Climate Transition Plan, ready for B Corp recertification

Overview

Modern Milkman had already been measuring their footprint before they came to Seedling, and sustainability was at the core of their operations. Their previous approach relied on hours of admin and manual calculations, and it was hard to unpick what was actually driving their emissions and how to decarbonise. As a certified B Corp with a broad product range and a supply chain built around dairy, they needed a more granular picture of their impact and a Climate Transition Plan to help them act on it. They also needed a footprint that could keep pace as the business grows across the UK and US, and as B Corp standards evolve.

About Modern Milkman

"Modern Milkman is a milkround built for today. Same trusted routes. Same returnable glass bottles. Now connected through a single household app that handles more than your groceries, including your recycling and your returns too.”

The model has scaled fast since its Lancashire beginnings, but the founding idea has stayed the same.

"Founded in 2018 by Simon Mellin in Colne, Lancashire, we deliver farm-fresh essentials from independent suppliers to thousands of doorsteps across the UK. We've since crossed the Atlantic, bringing the same trusted model to households in the US."

For a business built around reuse and less waste, carbon has always been close to the core of how they operate.

"Our business was founded on principles of sustainability; reducing unnecessary waste from the system through return and reuse glass bottles for milk."

The Objective

Modern Milkman wanted to move beyond a top-line footprint to something far more detailed: a full-scope picture of their impact and a Climate Transition Plan they could put into action.

As an established B Corp, keeping that footprint rigorous as they scale, and ahead of recertification, was a natural extension of what they already stood for.

"Certifying and recertifying as a B-corp aligns completely with our values in being a business for good and with it, tracking our carbon footprint on a wider scale as we continue to grow."

Why Modern Milkman Chose Seedling

Modern Milkman needed a carbon accounting partner who could handle complex data without making the process feel complicated, and who could talk about carbon in plain terms. The practical details won them over, from how easy the platform was to use to the clarity of the reporting.

"What won us over when choosing Seedling was the ease of data input and platform navigation – including clear reporting metrics and charts, and the automatic staff survey."

"Seedling communicate about sustainability and emissions in a really clear way, not getting caught up in jargon and being realistic on the art of the possible. They are super down to earth and great to work with, to help tackle problems and discuss plans."

How Seedling Helped

1) Measured a full-scope footprint from complex, product-heavy data

Seedling worked through Modern Milkman's product data in detail, summarising a large volume of packaging, food weight and shipping information and mapping it to the right emissions categories. That turned a sprawling, hard-to-interpret dataset into a full-scope footprint the team could understand and act on.

2) Quantified the benefit of their refills model

Alongside Modern Milkman’s organisational footprint, Seedling carried out a bespoke analysis comparing the carbon impact of Modern Milkman's refills service against the equivalent trip to the shops. It gave the team hard data to back up  their model, and a clearer story to share with customers.

3) Built a B Corp-ready Climate Transition Plan for a complex supply chain

With the footprint in place, Seedling helped Modern Milkman to identify hotspots and build a comprehensive Climate Transition Plan tailored to the realities of a product-heavy, dairy-dependent business, setting out where reductions are most achievable across their supply chain and where the biggest wins lie.

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The Modern Milkman team now have clear and practical plans to reduce emissions over the short and long-term, such as removal of single-use plastics in the US, switching delivery vans to electric, and schemes to recycle/repurpose waste and materials. It's the kind of data-backed plan that sits at the heart of the new B Corp Climate Action requirements, and feeds directly into their latest impact report.

The Impact

For the first time, Modern Milkman have a detailed, full-scope view of their emissions and a plan they can build on.

"For the first time, we have a really clear picture of our controllable operation and product impact and can build structures to communicate effectively with customers."

That shift, from slow manual calculations to a clear and customisable picture, means the team can spend less time chasing data and more time acting on it.

"With Seedling, you can dig into the data to unpick the biggest contributors, and all the extra data you can put in depending on your business context means it's truly customisable."

Their bespoke Seedling impact page means the Modern Milkman team can communicate their carbon data and reduction plan credibly and transparently.

Looking Ahead

With a full-scope footprint and a Climate Transition Plan now in place, Modern Milkman are focused on turning their plan into measurable progress, and heading into B Corp recertification on solid footing, all while continuing to grow across the UK and US.

Modern Milkman's Advice to Other Businesses

"You just need to start simple, get a baseline and improve your emissions, and focus on what will have the biggest impact but is also the most realistic and cost effective."