Tesco has outlined an ambitious plan for emissions reduction across its own operations and value chain as it becomes one of the first retailers in the world to have its net zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Tesco’s targets include stretching interim commitments to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from its operations by 85% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline year and absolute Scope 3 emissions from energy and industrial sources by 55% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline year.
Tesco has also become one of the first companies globally to have specific, SBTi-validated targets focused on greenhouse gas emissions originating from ‘forests, land, and agriculture with a commitment to reduce its absolute Scope 3 emissions from FLAG emissions by 39% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline year.
The validated targets will see Tesco work towards its commitment to become carbon neutral across its own operations by 2035 and value chain by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5ºC.
Emissions reduction activity will be grouped across six areas: Products, Decarbonise Transport, Reduce Store Emissions, Support Sustainable Consumption, Eliminate Waste, and Protect Nature. This activity will include scaling up deforestation-free feed sources, further roll-out of agricultural innovations such as low carbon fertiliser, and the continued decarbonisation of Tesco’ store estate and transport networks.
“With the effects of climate change now upon us, we’re absolutely committed to achieving our target of net zero by 2050,” said Ken Murphy, Tesco group chief executive. “It will require us to transform the way we run business, from how we produce our products in partnership with our suppliers, how we run our stores and transport network, and how we encourage our customers to make healthy and sustainable choices.
“We’ve led the way on action on climate change, from adopting 100% renewable electricity across the Group, so scaling innovations in our supply chains. We now must work even harder, in collaboration with our suppliers and partners, to achieve our goals.
“These ambitious targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, now provide us with a clear roadmap of action over the next ten years and beyond.”
Among the actions already taken, Tesco has actively supported suppliers to have net zero plans in place by the end of 2023. Key points within the retailer’s renewed ambition is its target to be 100% deforestation free across all primary risk commodities by 2025, to transition to fully recyclable packaging for all products by 2025, and to engage with world-leading international frameworks to drive supply chain traceability.
Tanya Steele, chief executive of WWF, said: “We welcome Tesco’s important step forward in setting SBTi-validated emission targets; tis must now be matched by action to drive down emissions across their entire value chain.
“We are calling on all UK food retailers to match this ambition by setting science-based climate targets across their value chains, and acting to put our food system on a sustainable footing, from farm to fork.”
