Tesco said today it would extend its green targets by promising net zero carbon emissions by 2050 across its operations together with those generated by the products it sells and its supply chains.
Tesco also pledged a new group-wide net zero target of 2035 for all its own operations, bringing it into line with the ambition set last year for its UK business alone.
Supermarket groups have been responding to growing consumer demands for less waste, less plastic and more action on the environment.
Tesco said emissions from its products and supply chain make up more than 90% of its total emissions footprint.
It said it would encourage its suppliers to use low-carbon fertiliser and alternative animal feed such as insect meal, and speed up its efforts to tackle emissions from refrigeration, heating and transport.
To date, Tesco Ireland has made progress on reducing emissions in its own operations by reducing its electricity consumption by 25%.
It also sources all its electricity from renewable sources and has made substantial changes to lighting, heating, ventilation and refrigeration in its store estate.
Tesco Group CEO Ken Murphy said in this critical year for tackling climate change, it is right that the retailer sets out this "ambitious" commitment to cut emission across its entire value chain.
"We don't yet have all the answers and we'll need support from our suppliers and wider society to meet our targets, but it's vital we take action now," Ken Murphy said.
"Building on the good progress we've made in cutting emissions in our own operations, we're also setting out a Group-wide net zero target of 2035," he said.
"These new commitments will bring an unprecedented level of transparency to our emissions footprint and will allow us to identify and tackle those areas where urgent transformational change is needed," he added.
Tesco Ireland CEO Kari Daniels said that as the first retailer in Ireland to set the ambition to achieve net zero emissions in its own operations by 2035 and in the value chain by 2050, it is setting unprecedented ambitions for the industry.
"Net zero is one step further in making real, tangible change when it comes to addressing climate change," Kari Daniels said.
"Emissions from our supply chains and the use of our products account for most of our emissions. It's vital we continue the good work in our own operations but also drive collective action and collaboration with our suppliers, and industry, to succeed in meeting these commitments," the Tesco Ireland CEO said.
"We're encouraged that 100 of our largest international suppliers have already reduced manufacturing emissions by 20%, but we know we all have further to go. We are encouraging our supply base to engage with us to set out a roadmap to work towards these targets and support the transition to a low carbon economy," she added.
But Tesco's plan failed to impress environmental campaigner Greenpeace UK, who accused the supermarket group of greenwashing.
"Tesco is desperate to give the impression it's leading the way on climate ahead of COP26. But this announcement is just hot air and an attempt to buy time," said Anna Jones, Greenpeace's head of forests and food.
