Sainsbury's aims for net zero status by 2040
Sainsbury's will spend £1 billion to reduce its net carbon emissions to zero over the next 20 years.
The grocery giant has pledged to focus on areas like refrigeration and transport. Critics have been quick to point out that the commitment does not extend to its supply network, which accounts for most of its emissions. However, Sainsbury's says it will be contacting its suppliers.
Chief Executive Mike Coupe, who departs in May after six years at the helm, comments:: "We need to understand further up our supply chains how we impact the environment and make sure our suppliers are working towards eliminating their carbon emissions as well."
Sainsbury's currently produces one million tonnes of carbon each year. Over the next two decades, it will stump up an average of £50 million a year on measures such as converting some of its vehicles to use alternative fuel and redesigning stores to be more energy efficient.
1,400 of its stores have been fitted with aerofoil technology, keeping fridges cool and aisles warmer and saving 15% of the energy used by the fridge. Sainsbury’s is also piloting deposit return schemes in five stores where customers recycle plastic bottles in exchange for a 5p per item coupon towards their shopping.
“We have a strong heritage of reducing our carbon emissions – we have reduced them by 35% over the past 15 years despite the footprint of our business increasing by over 40%. We invested £260 million in over 3,000 initiatives over the last decade, including the start of our LED lighting programme and refrigeration,” says Coupe.
“Over the next 20 years we will invest a further £1 billion in programmes that will transform the way we do business and put environmental impact at the forefront of every decision we make.”
Further details on the net zero pledge here.
