UK’s leading multinational grocery retailer is committed to serving customers affordable, healthy, and sustainable food. In its efforts to protect the planet for future generations, the company plays a critical role in creating a more resilient and sustainable food system.
In 2024–25, the company exceeded its operational emissions reduction target ahead of schedule, achieving a 65% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions. Specifically, scope 1 emissions decreased from 1,053,121 tons of CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2020–21 to 802,425 tons in 2024–25. Scope 2 emissions dropped from 13,621 tons to just 5,497 tonnes of CO₂e over the same period.
With its packaging and plastics strategy, the company made significant strides in 2024–25. An impressive 99% of its own-brand packaging by weight in the United Kingdom is now recyclable through kerbside collection, council sites, large supermarkets, or in-store recycling services. Of this, 87% is recyclable directly at the kerbside.
By adopting the 4Rs—Remove, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—the company removed 2.5 billion pieces of plastic from its own-brand products. A standout initiative in November 2024 saw the shift of its Finest range of dried pasta into paper packaging, eliminating more than 10 million pieces of plastic annually and saving over 30 tons in plastic weight.
One of the company’s most notable commitments is its effort to minimise food waste across the entire supply chain from farm to fork, while also ensuring that surplus food is suitable for consumption and redistribution. In 2024–25, a total of 102,684 tons of surplus food was recorded. Of this, 32,215 tons were redistributed to charities and in-store colleagues. The remaining 66,996 tons, classified as waste, represented just 0.66% of the total food handled.
Furthermore, the remaining 82% of unsold food was deemed safe for consumption and subsequently redistributed for both human and animal use.
This grocery giant’s performance in 2024-25 reflects a robust and multidimensional approach to sustainability, addressing emissions, plastic waste, and food surplus simultaneously. By exceeding environmental targets and implementing forward-thinking packaging and redistribution strategies, the company sets a powerful precedent for the retail sector. As the climate crisis accelerates, these actions not only protect the planet but also reinforce the company’s role as a responsible steward of the global food system.
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