Takeaways

• Morrisons has secured Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval for its 2050 net zero target, covering its full value chain.
• The targets include deep cuts to Scope 3 and FLAG emissions, addressing agriculture, land use, and deforestation risks.
• The move aligns Morrisons with a 1.5°C Paris-aligned pathway amid rising scrutiny of food retailers’ supply chains.

Morrisons has strengthened its climate strategy after securing approval from the Science Based Targets initiative for a new set of near- and long-term emissions targets. The validation confirms that the UK supermarket chain’s net zero ambition now extends across its entire value chain, including agriculture and land use, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C pathway.

The newly approved targets commit Morrisons to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 across Scopes 1, 2, and 3, as well as Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) emissions. Under the plan, the company aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80% by 2035 and 90% by 2050, using a 2019 baseline.

For its value chain emissions, Morrisons has set a target to reduce Scope 3 energy and industrial emissions by 40% and Scope 3 FLAG emissions by 48.5% by 2035. By 2050, the company plans to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 90% and FLAG emissions by 72%, reflecting the scale of transformation required across food production, logistics, and land management.

Read More: Net Zero Technologies: Pathways to Carbon Neutrality

Broadening the Net Zero Scope

The expansion of Morrisons’ targets reflects the structure of its emissions profile. Around 98% of its total emissions fall under Scope 3, driven largely by agricultural production, food processing, transport, and product end-of-life impacts. By formally including FLAG emissions, the retailer is placing greater focus on land use and deforestation-linked risks, an area facing growing regulatory and investor scrutiny in Europe.

The Science Based Targets initiative, a partnership involving CDP, United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and WWF, independently assesses whether corporate climate targets are in line with climate science. Its approval signals that Morrisons’ plans meet current best-practice standards for ambition and coverage.

Achievements Since 2019

Morrisons’ updated commitments build on progress already made. Since 2019, the company has reported a 22% reduction in total carbon emissions, including a 27% cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. These reductions have been driven by energy efficiency measures, lower-carbon logistics, operational changes, and closer collaboration with suppliers.

Working Together to Reach Net Zero

Delivering the targets will depend heavily on value chain collaboration. Morrisons plans to continue working with suppliers, industry groups, and partners to support changes in farming practices, energy use, and land management.

Andrew Edlin, Head of Sustainability at Morrisons, said the approval marked a major milestone in the company’s climate journey, adding that independent validation provides a clear roadmap for achieving measurable emissions reductions while recognizing the need for industry-wide collaboration.

Also Read: SBTi Launches 1st Global Register of Certified Climate Target Experts

What Executives and Investors Should Look Out for

For executives and investors, Morrisons’ SBTi-approved targets highlight how climate governance in food retail is shifting beyond operational emissions toward deeper engagement with agriculture and nature-related risks. The credibility of the strategy will now rest on execution, particularly progress toward the 2035 interim milestones and supplier alignment across the value chain.

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Source: ESG NEWS