Updated on April 15, 2024 – ‘Sustainability’, ‘climate’, ‘scope 1,2,3’, 'net-zero', ‘CO2 emissions’, ‘decarbonization’: the climate debate is charged with terminology that might make the topic complex to understand. And with several experts and organizations each communicating their own interpretations and opinions, it may be difficult to follow and figure out what it all means. Therefore, we are sharing insight into what Ahold Delhaize's climate ambitions encompass.
1. Ahold Delhaize commits to 1.5 degrees
In line with the latest climate science to limit global warming, we have established short-term (interim) and long-term (net-zero) climate targets across our own operations (scope 1 and 2) and across our value chain (scope 3) which are in line with a pathway limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.
2. Ahold Delhaize's climate targets are based on science
Our climate targets are the result of in-depth, long-term projects together with external expert parties to help us identify what our goals should be to reach net-zero on time.
For this, we used the method of the Science Based Targets initiative, which interprets the requirements of the Paris Agreement and makes it relevant for business. It is by far the most widely adopted method used by companies worldwide.
Ahold Delhaize is proud to have committed to Science Based Targets for all three scopes. This makes us a leader in our industry, and we are happy to see this confirmed by external benchmarks that track industry performance such as the MSCI Sustainability Index.
Our scope 1 and 2 targets have been validated by SBTI and we are currently in an active target validation dialogue with SBTi on our updated scope 3 targets.
3. Ahold Delhaize's biggest challenge – and work – is in our supply chain
We do not only need to remove the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from our own operations, but also those in our supply chain. This includes the emissions that arise from growing raw ingredients, the production of products and their associated transportation.
Our brands across Europe and the United States have hundreds of thousands of products on their shelves which are supplied by more than 10,000 suppliers. All of these suppliers source materials and ingredients from their own supply chains, resulting in complex supply chains covering all areas of the world.
As a result, we all need to work together to move towards a more healthy and sustainable food system. To be able to change the system we also need governments to set level playing fields and consumers to help drive the change.
Here are the details
We recently updated our targets in line with the latest SBTi methodology. Read more about this in this release.
For our own operations (scope 1 and 2), we are committed to becoming net-zero by 2040 with an interim target of a 50% reduction by 2030.
For our entire value chain (scope 3), we have the following near term (2030) target:
- Reducing absolute scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 30.3% (or 4.7 MtCO2e) by 2030 from the 2020 baseline (for near-term target, 15.5 MtCO2e).
- Reducing absolute scope 3 E&I GHG emissions by 42.0% (or 12.4 MtCO2e) by 2030 from the 2020 baseline (for near-term target, 29.5 MtCO2).
And the following long term (2050) target:
- Reducing absolute scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by at least 72% (or 15.0 MtCO2e) by 2050 from the 2020 baseline (for long-term target, 20.8 MtCO2e).
- Reducing absolute scope 3 E&I GHG emissions by 90% (or 34.0 MtCO2e) by 2050 from the 2020 baseline (for long-term target, 37.8 MtCO2e).
- We commit to reach net-zero GHG emissions across our own operations and the value chain by 2050.
For setting our long-term and net-zero SBTi targets, we are making use of removals only to the extent permitted by the applicable SBTi guidance.
More information about our Climate Plan can be found here.
More recent disclosure can be found in our 2023 Annual Report, starting on page 113.
