Better Health for All

Whitbread supports employee mental health through several initiatives, including training 162 Mental Health First Aiders and Champions

, launching a digital self-care app , offering anonymous support services , and providing financial education programs . The company has been named a 'Top Employer' for 13 consecutive years , reflecting its commitment to creating a supportive and healthy work environment . Whitbread's core business of hotels and restaurants does not directly address healthcare. However, it promotes better nutrition by ensuring healthier dining options on children's menus, which include at least two portions of vegetables per meal , and its Brewers Fayre brand has pledged to meet 'five-a-day' nutritional guidelines . The company also addresses food insecurity by donating the equivalent of 259,140 meals in the 2023/24 financial year through partnerships with charities . Additionally, Whitbread has committed to raising €30,000 over three years for the Children's Health Foundation Ireland to fund an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program and has raised funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

In June 2024, Whitbread announced plans to cut 1,500 jobs, drawing criticism from the Unite union

. The union condemned the lack of a real living wage and company sick pay . Employees have reported concerns over poor working conditions, low wages, long hours, inadequate breaks, job insecurity, and the company's stance on unionization . Citizens UK, Unite, and ShareAction urged Whitbread to commit to a real Living Wage in June 2022 . Conversely, Whitbread invested £28 million in employee pay and benefits in April 2023, which included a 6.4% increase in pay rates and a one-time cost-of-living payment, primarily benefiting entry-level employees . In November 2022, the company invested £15 million to enhance pay for over 30,000 UK-based hourly-paid team members, increasing minimum pay rates by over 4% and providing a £300 one-off payment . Whitbread also launched inclusive workplace networks and policies like flexible holidays in January 2023 .

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

SMETA audits are conducted at least every 24 months for high-risk suppliers and every factory in China.

In the last three years, a supplier was found to have migrant workers who paid recruitment fees to a third party; the supplier fully investigated, improved internal controls, and reimbursed the workers. Whitbread requires 100% of its tier 1 suppliers to sign the Responsible Sourcing Policy, which is implemented within supplier contracts.

Honest & Fair Business

Whitbread PLC demonstrates extensive independent verification of ethical claims, with 100% of its wild-caught whole fish MSC certified

and 100% of suppliers risk-assessed and regularly audited for ethical, technical, and animal welfare standards . The company also partners with Sedex to conduct SMETA audits across its construction sites . Furthermore, Whitbread has a comprehensive Code of Conduct that includes anti-bribery and anti-corruption measures , supported by mandatory e-learning modules for all team members .

Kind to Animals

Whitbread has achieved 100% cage-free status for all shell eggs since 2020

and for all ingredient eggs in 2024. All poultry for meat and egg production is also cage-free. The company mandates 100% certified sourcing for all animal proteins to recognized farm assurance schemes, including British Lion, Bord Bia, Global Gap, and RSPCA Assured. All wild-caught whole fish is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified. Whitbread implements strong animal agriculture ethics, banning permanent close confinement and limiting gestation crates to 28 days. 100% of UK pork is free from gestation crates (55% of global supply) , and 100% of calves are group housed. Lamb is farmed extensively, and dairy cattle are not routinely tethered. Beef is sourced from farms that do not operate feedlots or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Routine mutilations are avoided wherever possible, with 100% of commercial broilers free of beak trimming and 100% of sheep free from mulesing. Prophylactic use of antibiotics is strictly prohibited, and 100% of animals are stunned pre-slaughter. The company participates in industry roundtables, including the Free Farrowing and Better Chicken Commitment groups, in partnership with Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), to advance animal welfare standards. As a hospitality company, Whitbread does not engage in animal testing or related R&D.

No War, No Weapons

The provided articles do not contain specific, quantifiable evidence for any of the KPIs related to the 'No War, No Weapons' ethical value. While Whitbread PLC is a hospitality company, and some articles mention humanitarian aid to Ukraine (donating beds, duvets, and pillows)

, this information does not align with the specific quantitative thresholds or definitions required by the rubric for KPIs such as 'peacebuilding_investment' or 'zero_exposure_controversial_weapons'. Article 6 explicitly states that the company's 'Force for Good' program, which emphasizes community support, does not address peace-building or conflict resolution . For all other KPIs, the articles explicitly state that no relevant information was found .

Planet-Friendly Business

Whitbread has diverted 100% of its operational waste from landfill.

The company sources 98% of its UK electricity from renewable energy. Its net zero target, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligns with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway. This target aims to eliminate Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040 and reduce Scope 3 emissions by 90% by 2050, with an overall net zero carbon commitment by 2050. In October 2023, Whitbread opened its first all-electric Premier Inn hotel in Swindon, which is powered entirely by renewable electricity.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Whitbread has no reported cultural appropriation incidents and no reported disruptions to cultural or heritage sites. The company engages in general charitable giving, including significant food donations and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but does not specifically focus on cultural heritage organizations. There is no specific cultural incident response framework mentioned. Whitbread promotes diversity and inclusion through its 'Force for Good' program, which includes networks for cultural, gender, and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity

. The company celebrated Black History Month in October 2023 and other key cultural dates . New hotels engage locally through volunteering , and the company makes economic contributions averaging £3.3 million per hotel annually to local areas . Whitbread also supports sustainable agriculture projects with CottonConnect, which aids farmer communities , and implements responsible sourcing practices for products like 100% MSC-certified fish, cage-free whole eggs, certified palm oil, and sustainable cotton .

Safe & Smart Tech

Whitbread PLC reported no data breaches in the last fiscal year as of 2023.

A breach occurred in July 2018 related to a third-party provider, which falls outside the three-year lookback period for negative scoring. The company's Restaurants business is annually certified to PCI-DSS standards, and it adheres to components of the ISO27001 framework. Employee security training is mandatory, with advanced courses for technology teams. The company employs patch management, malware protection tools, and independent penetration testing. It encourages responsible reporting of security vulnerabilities through a Security Operations Centre and Protector Hotline. There are no documented incidents of unauthorized data use.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Whitbread diverts 99% of its operational waste from landfill.

The company has set company-wide waste reduction targets, including a goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 against a FY18/19 baseline and to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics by 2025. As part of its waste reduction initiatives, Whitbread has already eliminated plastic straws and stirrers , opted not to use miniature shower products in Premier Inn hotels , and is conducting a comprehensive review of plastic and packaging across its supply chain.