Net Zero Economy Delivers £105bn Boost As Fresh Produce Faces Green Growth Challenge
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
The UK’s net zero economy is now worth around £105 billion a year and supports 1.1 million full-time equivalent jobs, according to new research from CBI Economics — underlining the growing commercial importance of sustainability across British business.
For the fresh produce industry, the findings are a timely reminder that the transition to lower-carbon operations is no longer a fringe environmental issue. It is fast becoming a mainstream economic driver, shaping investment decisions across energy, manufacturing, construction, engineering, logistics, packaging, professional services and wider supply chains.
The analysis, highlighted by Circular Online, found that net zero-related activity is already generating major value across the UK economy. Gross Value Added, or GVA, is a measure of the value that businesses, industries or regions contribute to the national economy.
According to the research, every £1 of economic value created directly by net zero firms generates a further £1.85 across the wider UK economy through supply chains and household spending.
That multiplier effect is particularly relevant to fresh produce, where growers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and logistics providers are increasingly under pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining affordability, resilience and year-round availability.
From renewable energy for packhouses and glasshouses, to lower-carbon transport, waste reduction, circular packaging, energy-efficient cold chains and more sustainable infrastructure, the sector is already being pulled into the broader net zero economy. The CBI findings suggest that businesses able to adapt may not simply be managing compliance or reputational risk — they could be positioning themselves within one of the UK’s most productive industrial growth areas.
The net zero sector is underpinned by more than 23,500 businesses, according to the research, with more than 96 per cent of them small or medium-sized enterprises. The analysis found that activity spans energy, manufacturing, construction, engineering and professional services, demonstrating how widely the transition is now embedded across the economy.
The CBI described net zero as one of the UK’s “most productive and geographically distributed industrial sectors”.
Louise Hellem, Chief Economist at the CBI, said net zero is a “significant and growing” part of the UK’s industrial base.
“What stands out is not just the scale, but the breadth. Net zero-related activity is embedded across energy, manufacturing, construction, engineering and professional services, with activity present in every nation and region of the UK,” Hellem said.
However, she warned that the opportunity cannot be taken for granted.
“The ability to convert investment pipelines into delivered projects, develop the necessary skills, and create a stable environment for business investment will be critical to determining how much value the UK ultimately captures,” she continued.
For fresh produce businesses, that warning will resonate. The industry is already grappling with high energy costs, labour pressures, border complexity, packaging reform, food waste targets and increasing retailer expectations around environmental performance.
The latest CBI analysis adds weight to the argument that net zero should not be viewed solely as another cost burden. Done well, it can support competitiveness, attract investment, strengthen supply chains and help future-proof a sector that is uniquely exposed to climate, energy and logistics disruption.
As the UK fresh produce supply chain looks ahead, the challenge will be ensuring that sustainability policy, infrastructure investment and commercial expectations are aligned with the realities of perishable food. Net zero may be creating national economic value — but for fresh produce, the next test is making sure that value reaches the businesses keeping Britain supplied.
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