Tesco’s “ambitious” target to become carbon neutral and achieve net zero across its operations by 2035 and across its value chain by 2050 has been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).
The UK’s largest retailer is one of the first companies globally to set validated science-based targets across all greenhouse gas emissions, including a landmark pledge to cut absolute scope 3 emissions from forests, land and agriculture (FLAG) by 39% by 2032.
The validated targets will see Tesco working towards its commitments in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C.
They will also see Tesco committing to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions from its own operations by 85% by 2030, absolute scope 3 emissions from energy and industrial sources by 55% by 2032 from a 2019 baseline year.
Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy said the retailer is “absolutely committed to achieving our target of net zero by 2050″, but admitted there is still a long way to go.
“[meeting the validated targets] will require us to transform the way we run our 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,” he added.
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“We’ve led the way on action on climate change, from adopting 100% renewable electricity across the group, to 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.”
The supermarket giant has set out its emissions reduction priorities through its Planet Agenda. Activity will be grouped across six areas: products, transport, store emissions, sustainable consumption, waste and nature.
Key goals will include becoming 100% deforestation-free across all feed sources by 2025, rolling out agricultural innovations such as low carbon fertiliser, halving food waste by 2025 and the continued decarbonisation of Tesco’s store estate and transport networks, including an 100% electric home delivery fleet by 2030.
The supermarket giant already uses 100% renewable energy and has achieved an absolute emissions reduction from its own operations of 55%, against a 2015 baseline. It has also decarbonised its home delivery fleet and rolled the UK’s largest network of 2,400 retail EV charging points.
It has also issued more than £1 billion in sustainability-linked bonds and worked with a number of suppliers to support their net zero plans being in place by the end of 2023.
WWF chief executive Tanya Steele welcomes Tesco’s “important step forward in setting SBTi-validated emission targets.”
“This 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,” she added.
