UK supermarket retailer Morrisons announced a new series of climate targets, including a commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its full value chain by 2050.
The new targets mark a significant update to Morrisons’ climate goals, which had previously included a commitment to achieve net zero emissions from its own operations by 2035. While the Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions goal is pushed out by the new commitments, the updated net zero target now extends to the company’s full value chain. Notably, Scope 3 emissions account for approximately 98% of Morrisons’ carbon footprint.
As part of its new long-term net zero commitment, Morrisons is targeting 90% reductions in absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions, as well as a 72% reduction in Forest, Land & Agriculture (FLAG) emissions by 2050, on a 2019 basis.
The company’s new goals also include interim targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 80%, absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 40%, and absolute Scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions 48.5% by 2035, in addition to a commitment to no deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities by the end of 2025.
Morrisons also provided an update on its progress to date, with the company reporting that it has achieved a 22% reduction in total carbon emissions since 2019, including a 27% reduction Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company said that its emissions reductions have been driven by initiatives including operational changes, energy efficiency projects, lower-carbon logistics and collaboration with its suppliers.
The company also said that its new near- and long-term targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Andrew Edlin, Head Of Sustainability at Morrisons said:
“The validation of these targets reaffirms Morrisons commitment to sustainability and the move to a 2050 target across the full value chain is a big step forward in our journey to net zero. We are taking upstream and downstream emissions of our operations into account including emissions created in making products, in our stores, transport systems and then end of life emissions too.”
