Green jobs: Powering the food industry’s future

What we eat, and how that food is produced, matters more than ever. Every meal connects to the health of people, communities, and the planet.

As the impacts of climate change become clearer, the food industry stands at a turning point. The choices we make today will shape not only the future of our food system, but also our economy, society, and environment.

The food industry is transforming

The food and drink industry is entering a period of rapid transformation. Businesses are rethinking how food is grown, produced, packaged, and transported to meet the needs of a more sustainable world.

This change is not optional; it’s essential. The sector must adapt to extreme weather, supply chain disruption and increasing customer expectations for climate-conscious products. That means new ideas, new technologies and, most importantly, new skills.

At the heart of this shift are green jobs: roles that help reduce environmental impact, cut waste, and build resilience into the food system.

From sustainability managers and food waste leads to deforestation analysts and packaging technologists, these careers are vital to the industry’s future success.

Young people want to make a difference

Young people are clear: they want to work for organisations that share their values and have a positive impact on the world.

Our ‘Tomorrow’s workforce’ report shows that a third (32%) of young people say they are likely to apply for green jobs.

However, the same research reveals that 19% of young people aren’t even aware of the career opportunities available within the food and drink industry. Many also say they lack the information or confidence to explore the range of roles available.

This awareness gap is a challenge, but also a huge opportunity. If we can show the next generation just how diverse, exciting and impactful the food and drink industry can be, we can inspire them to help drive the sector’s transformation.

How IGD’s supporting Green Careers Week

We’re committed to connecting young people with the world of work and helping them discover the rewarding careers available in food and drink. Our employability programme is one of the largest industry-supported employability initiatives in the UK.

So far, we’ve trained more than 130,000 students across over 30% of UK secondary schools, helping them build confidence, understand career pathways, and hear directly from industry professionals.

This Green Careers Week, we’re taking that mission even further by hosting sustainability-themed workshops to reach more than 1,000 students across 25 schools. These activities feature volunteers from right across the food system, including:

Deforestation Regulation Manager at Tesco.
Head of Sustainability at Greencore.
Food Waste Lead at Tesco.
Sustainability Manager at Mondelēz International.
Sustainability Programme Manager at IGD.
Senior Fellow, Food Loss & Waste at the World Resources Institute.

Each volunteer brings real-world insight into what a green job looks like, how sustainability drives innovation, and why the next generation’s skills are key to a more resilient future.

Help inspire the next generation

The future of food depends on the next generation, but they can’t step into roles they don’t know exist.

If you work in food and drink, make a difference by becoming a virtual volunteer.

There’s minimal prep required, it only takes an hour of your time, and we will support you with a briefing and rehearsal before you join an online event run by an expert facilitator.

Then it’s over to you to share your story, highlight the sustainability impact of your role, and help young people see the food industry in a whole new light.