Morrisons aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, under an “expanded” set of long-term climate commitments unveiled today.
While it means Morrisons has pushed back its previous ambitions to be net zero by 2035 from a 2019 baseline, the supermarket claimed the newly “validated” commitments now cover the “full breath of the company’s value chain” for the first time.
Under the new set of long-term targets Morrisons aims to cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero across its entire value chain by 2050. It will also reduce absolute Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90%, from its 2019 baseline.
Morrisons aims to cut Scope 3 GHG emissions from farm, land and agriculture, so called FLAG emissions, by 72% from the 2019 baseline.
The climate commitment also includes new near-term targets for 2035. Morrisons will cut its absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 80%, reduce absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 40%, and reduce FLAG GHG emissions by 48.5% from the 2019 baseline.
It includes a further commitment to “no deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities”, Morrisons said.
The targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
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“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,” said Andrew Edlin, Morrisons head of sustainability.
“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,” Edlin said.
Independent approval from SBTi would give Morrisons “a clear roadmap” to achieve measurable reductions, Edlin added.
“We also recognise industry-wide collaboration will be essential in achieving these goals and we are committed to working in partnership to deliver them,” he said.
Morrisons had previously committed to reaching net zero across its farm and manufacturing supply chain by 2030.
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