**London**: A recent Carbon Trust report reveals that the world’s ten largest supermarket chains are making strides toward net-zero emissions but face significant challenges. While some have set goals, transparency in supply chains and product-related emissions remain critical issues to address for effective climate action.
The world’s ten largest supermarket chains are navigating the complex landscape of climate impact reduction, according to a recent report released by the Carbon Trust. The report, titled ‘Big changes in store: How can the global supermarket sector accelerate to net zero?’, assesses the progress of these major retailers toward achieving net-zero emissions and highlights crucial areas where improvements can be made.
Among the ten chains evaluated are Walmart (United States), Schwarz Group (which owns Lidl and Kaufland in Germany), Kroger (United States), Aldi Süd (Germany), Tesco (United Kingdom), Carrefour (France), Edeka (Germany), Albertsons (United States), Aeon (Japan), and Ahold Delhaize (Netherlands). The findings reveal that while these supermarkets have set short-term goals to cut emissions related to their shops, distribution centres, and vehicles, only four of them have established long-term net-zero targets. The emissions tied to product-related activities, which represent as much as 85 per cent of their total carbon footprint, remain a significant challenge, particularly given that food production is noted as the largest source of emissions within the sector.
A critical issue highlighted in the report is the inadequate understanding of supply chains, which hampers supermarkets’ abilities to set effective targets and create actionable plans. The report notes that only half of the world’s ten largest supermarket chains provide data on the products they source, with this lack of transparency being a significant barrier to progress in combatting deforestation. Despite eight of the ten chains expressing commitments to stop deforestation, transparency issues impede these efforts.
The report also offers several recommendations for supermarkets to enhance their climate efforts, both individually and in collaboration with one another. Among these suggestions is the importance of supporting food producers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices, such as optimising animal feed to reduce methane emissions from livestock. Supermarkets could potentially incentivise farmers through initiatives like offering premiums for sustainably produced goods, facilitating low-interest loans, and providing prompt payments for environmentally friendly products.
The transitions towards a net-zero economy present not only challenges but also opportunities for supermarkets. Carbon Trust indicates that cooperation among these retailers is essential for establishing shared emissions data platforms, which could track pollution sources and improve supply chain transparency. Furthermore, the establishment of joint ventures could facilitate wider adoption of regenerative farming practices and promote sustainable purchasing behaviours.
Simon Retallack, director of the Carbon Trust, remarked, “Supermarkets, with their important position at the centre of the global food system, have a golden opportunity to use their influence to engage suppliers, customers, and policymakers on the route to a net zero future.” He emphasised that genuine collaboration with suppliers is critical for the successful implementation of these strategies.
The report ultimately underscores that the path to a resilient, sustainable food system is deeply intertwined with the actions and commitments of supermarkets, highlighting the necessity of deep cooperation within the sector to achieve substantial progress in mitigating climate impact.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
