New targets cover entire value chain, including emissions from farming
Morrisons has beefed up its climate commitments, with a new set of near and long-term science-based emissions-reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The supermarket’s new 2050 net-zero target covers the entire value chain, including emissions from agriculture and land-use sources. The targets align with global best practice under the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C pathway.
As part of its revised targets, Morrisons has committed to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2035, and by 90 per cent by 2050.
With approximately 98 per cent of its emissions from Scope 3, the retailer has also expanded its emissions target to include a 40 per cent reduction in Scope 3 energy and industrial emissions by 2035, and a 48.5 per cent reduction in Scope 3 FLAG emissions within the same timeframe.
Since first setting near-term carbon targets with the SBTi in 2021, Morrisons noted its progress in achieving a 22 per cent reduction in total carbon emissions since 2019. This includes a 27 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
The overall reduction has been driven by sustained operational changes, energy efficiency projects, lower-carbon logistics and collaboration with suppliers, it said.
The newly validated targets now cover the full breadth of the company’s value chain and include:
Long-term targets by 2050 (from 2019 base year):
- Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain
- Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90 per cent
- Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 90 per cent
- Reduce absolute Scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions 72 per cent.
Near-term targets by 2035 (from 2019 base year):
- Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 80 per cent
- Reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 40 per cent
- Reduce absolute Scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions 48.5 per cent by 2035, with further commitment to no deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities by 31 December 2025.
Morrisons stressed that it understands the importance of collaboration in achieving its new commitments and will “continue to work with industry groups, suppliers and partners to support the changes needed to drive meaningful action”.
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. Additional targets for forest, land and agriculture (FLAG) emissions reflect the importance of land-use and agricultural impacts across the business.
“Independent approval gives us a clear roadmap to achieve meaningful, measurable reductions. We also recognise that industry-wide collaboration will be essential in achieving these goals and we are committed to working in partnership to deliver them.”
