We are working hard with our suppliers to reduce unnecessary packaging by innovating and constantly reviewing our supply chain practices as we build a better Subway®. 

Packaging plays an important role in protecting food quality and enhancing the guest experience. At the same time, we recognise the environmental impacts of material choices and packaging waste. Our packaging is designed to be reused and recycled, while also being functional.

By the end of 2022, we removed over 1.2m kg of single use plastic across our supply chain in Europe.

Read our Global Sustainable Packaging Policy here.

In May 2023, Subway® launched a new uniform, made from recycled plastic bottles. Each garment has been carefully designed to ensure comfort and durability, whilst maintaining Subway®'s distinctive branding and iconic colour pallets. 

The fabric used for the garments has been specially woven into a polyester blend* that uses recycled plastic bottles. Each uniform item clearly communicates how many bottles were used i.e., 3 bottles were used to make each cap, while 8 bottles plus a mix of BCI cotton (Better Cotton Initiative) were used to make the Sandwich Artists^TM t-shirts.

To close the loop, Subway® worked with textile recycling expert, Avena Group, to collect and process old uniforms which were replaced during the transition. The repurposed materials will be reused across industries such as automotive and construction, rather than go to landfill.

 

*The new T-shirts and Polos are a mix of BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton and recycled polyester. The other parts of the new uniform are 100% recycled polyester. Recycled polyester is made from plastic bottles.

Subway® understands that agriculture, a critical element of our value chain, is linked to the health of the world’s forest system. Our influence on forests is mainly through the sourcing of agricultural materials (palm oil, soy and beef value chains) and paper/wood-based products for disposable packaging and restaurant design. Subway® aims to source from suppliers that strive to:

• Use sustainable forest management practices in forests they own, lease, or manage to provide fibre, paper, timber and other forest-based products.
• Leverage principles and implement sustainable agriculture practices that enable farmers to increase production on currently farmed land and minimise impacts on the surrounding area.
• Preserve biodiversity and cultural values and optimise the social, environmental and economic benefits of managed forests.