Kellogg’s has successfully trialled hydrogen-fired processes at its Manchester factory, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s push for industrial decarbonisation. The company, owned by Kellanova, switched from natural gas to hydrogen for its toasting oven, a critical component in the production of cereals like Cornflakes, Bran Flakes, Special K, and Rice Krispies. The three-week trial of Kellogg’s hydrogen-fired cereal is a first for the UK and could be a key step in shaping the future of low-carbon industrial manufacturing. Keep reading as we dive further into this corporate sustainability initiative.
A hydrogen-powered shift in food production
The hydrogen used in the trial was supplied by BOC, the UK and Ireland’s largest industrial gas provider. Currently, the majority of hydrogen production is fossil-fuel-based, meaning it does not yet fully eliminate carbon emissions from the supply chain.
However, the UK government is pushing for a 10GW low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half of it being green hydrogen. Kellanova secured £3 million in government funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in 2023 as part of the £55 million Industrial Fuel Switching Competition. The funding aims to help manufacturers transition away from high-emission fuels like natural gas.
Kellanova has announced the closure of its Trafford Park factory in 2026. However, it remains committed to using the results of this trial to inform decarbonisation strategies at its other sites. This includes its Wrexham factory in Wales, which is set to receive blue hydrogen from EET Hydrogen’s Cheshire site by 2027.
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Why hydrogen?
Hydrogen is increasingly being explored as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels in industries that require high-temperature processes, such as food manufacturing, glassmaking, and steel production. Unlike natural gas, hydrogen emits zero greenhouse gases at the point of combustion.
The challenge, however, remains the source of hydrogen – whether it is produced from renewable energy sources (green hydrogen) or derived from fossil fuels with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) (blue hydrogen).
Kellanova’s VP of Manufacturing, Sam Bistiaux, emphasised the broader impact of the company’s hydrogen experiment, saying that using hydrogen is an exciting first for them and it’s a significant moment for their operations, people, and the industry as a whole as it showcases the potential of investing in low-carbon fuels to accelerate decarbonisation.
Other UK manufacturers exploring hydrogen-fired processes include Pepsico, Kraft-Heinz, Essity, Encirc, JLR, and Kimberly-Clark, indicating that multiple sectors are considering hydrogen as a viable option for reducing their industrial emissions.
Decarbonisation targets and the road ahead
Kellanova has set Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-approved 2030 climate goals. These include a 66.5 percent reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to 2015 levels. By the end of 2024, its European operations had already cut emissions by 54 percent.
Beyond 2030, the company has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, aligning with the SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard, which mandates a 90 percent reduction in absolute emissions across all Scopes.
A critical moment for industrial sustainability
The shift toward hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel in manufacturing presents both opportunities and challenges. While hydrogen-fired cereal processes offer a viable pathway to reducing industrial emissions, the technology is still in its infancy, and the availability of green hydrogen at scale remains a bottleneck.
For food manufacturers, the potential benefits of hydrogen include:
- Lowering carbon footprints while maintaining production efficiency.
- Reducing reliance on fossil fuels, aligning with net-zero goals.
- Meeting growing regulatory and consumer demands for sustainable operations.
However, the transition to hydrogen faces barriers, including infrastructure costs, energy efficiency concerns, and the slow rollout of green hydrogen projects. The success of Kellanova’s trial emphasises the need for greater investment in hydrogen infrastructure, government incentives, and industry-wide collaboration.
Conclusion
Hydrogen has the potential to play a transformative role in decarbonising heavy industry, but the success of such trials will depend on scalability, affordability, and the availability of truly clean hydrogen. While Kellogg’s hydrogen-fired cereal signals progress, hydrogen alone is not a silver bullet.
The food sector (and wider industrial manufacturing) will need a mix of decarbonisation strategies, including electrification, circular economy models, and carbon capture technologies, to make meaningful progress toward net-zero emissions.
As industries explore cleaner fuel alternatives, hydrogen’s success will hinge on stronger policy support, innovation, and collaboration across supply chains. Kellanova’s move is a step forward, but a much larger shift is needed to bring hydrogen into mainstream manufacturing.
