The international food retailer Ahold Delhaize revealed a variety of measures and aims aimed at the decarbonization of its supply chain, including a request for suppliers to report their emissions and set science-based reduction targets.
The company's value chain, which includes thousands of suppliers, producers, and farmers, will lower emissions by 37% by 2030.
The new commitments follow the company's announcement last year of its intention to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in its operations by 2040 and in its entire supply chain, products, and services by 2050. Ahold Delhaize stated at the time that it will release further information on its Scope 3 intentions within a year.
Supporting its brands' suppliers in setting science-based climate targets, targeting areas such as livestock farming, raw material sourcing, deforestation, food waste, packaging, and transport; investing in the development of low-carbon products, such as plant-based protein products; engaging with customers, including assisting them in understanding the impact of their purchasing decisions; and
Ahold Delhaize stated in its recently revealed Climate Plan that it will require its suppliers to report on their own Scope 3 emissions and that 70% of its suppliers would be required to agree to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) by 2025. The plan highlights agriculture as the largest opportunity for the corporation to cut Scope 3 emissions.
Ahold Delhaize claimed that its new interim Scope 3 target is congruent with the Net-Zero Standard of the Science Based Targets project. SBTi created the standard last year to evaluate and certify corporations' net zero pledges based on severe standards, often demanding decarbonization of 90% – 95% by 2050 and neutralization of residual emissions that cannot yet be reduced.
Chief Sustainability Officer of Ahold Delhaize, Jan Ernst de Groot, stated:
"As a group of mainstream supermarkets and retailers, we want to provide customers with sustainable and healthy products while prioritizing shelf availability and affordability. Our goal for future generations is to maintain our leadership position in the transition to a more sustainable food system
Comments