UK retailer Sainsbury’s has revealed new targets for decreasing its greenhouse gas emissions, which have been verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Sainsbury’s was one of the first UK retailers to set SBTi validated targets back in 2020, and had previously committed to reducing its absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. It has now pledged a 68% reduction within the same time frame, using a 2019 financial year base.
As part of the evolution of its greenhouse gas emissions removal goals, Sainsbury’s scope 3 emission reduction target of 30% by 2030 has now been turned into two separate commitments. It’s operational target, which includes areas such as transport, energy use, and manufacturing sites, has been increased to 50.4%, while it has also pledged to reduce scope 3 emissions that come from forests, land, and agriculture (FLAG) by 36.4% by 2030.
John Lewis Partnership became the first retailer, in 2023, to have verified targets for FLAG – in what is a new stipulation of the SBTi.
Sainsbury’s new targets are part of its work towards becoming net zero in its own operations by 2035, and in its value chain by 2050, in line with its commitment to the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming by 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Like other signatories of the WWF Retailer Commitment for Nature, Sainsbury’s has requested its suppliers that are responsible for a high proportion of its scope 3 emissions to get approved science-based targets by the end of 2025.
SBTi is the global body that sets requirements for and approves emission reduction targets.
Ruth Cranston, director of corporate responsibility & sustainability at Sainsbury’s, commented: “Getting our updated targets validated by the SBTi is an important step forward.
“The effects of climate change are already very real so it’s vital that we act now to reduce emissions and protect and restore nature to help us build a resilient future for all. Our ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 will require transformation across our whole business, supply chains, as well as how we help our customers to make more informed choices. We can’t do this alone, so collaboration as an industry will be critical to drive the required change.”
Read more about Sainsbury’s greener retailing work on Green Retail World
[Image credit: Green Retail World]
