Sainsbury’s business and operations will become net-zero by 2035, in line with the goal to limit global warming to 1.5C, under revised targets following extensive investment and innovation that has already seen Sainsbury’s make significant progress in reducing operational emissions.

The new target reduces its commitment to net-zero by five years following a cut of carbon footprint by 47 per cent in the last 17 years despite its space increasing by over 40 per cent. By the end of the year the supermarket will be using fully renewable electricity across its entire estate and has committed to the long-term purchasing of renewable energy from new wind farms and solar projects to be built over the next two years, significantly reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

Going forward the retailer will also install LED lighting across its supermarkets by the end of this year, reducing lighting energy consumption by 70 per cent and store energy consumption by 20 per cent. This follows an extensive financial investment of £320m in the past ten years, funding more than 3,100 sustainable initiatives.

The retailer is also working collaboratively with its suppliers to set their own ambitious net-zero commitments, with the goal of reducing Scope 3 emissions in its value chain by a third by 2030. This includes reducing emissions from purchased goods and services sold, upstream transport and distribution and the direct use of sold products. This year Sainsbury’s has written to 400 of its top suppliers asking them to report and disclose against their carbon reduction targets.

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