Major retailers are failing on emissions

A new study, published by the Changing Markets Foundation and Mighty Earth, reveals that the top 20 global food retailers (all based in the USA and Europe) are drastically missing the mark when it comes to tackling significant methane emissions within their supply chains, which make up a notable proportion of overall methane emissions - estimated to be one-third of retailers’ total emissions. 

This poses an opportunity for speciality shops (farm shops, delis and food halls) to really shout out about the low carbon, low methane credentials of their businesses, and to demonstrate yet another point of difference against major retailers.

In an assessment of their methane reductions across 18 indicators, 19 of the top 20 major food retailers analysed secured less than half of the total points available. Only Tesco scraped past the halfway mark with a ‘top’ score of 51/100. The average score across all indicators amongst retailers was 20/100, indicating a lack of action and major room for improvement. 

Currently, none of the retailers assessed have a methane reduction target, or report their methane emissions, despite many recognising the impact these have in heating the planet. Changing Markets and Mighty Earth are calling for retailers to set a science-based target for reduction by at least 30% by 2030 - in line with the Global Methane Pledge - publicly reporting these emissions annually.

The UN Environment Programme’s Global Methane Assessment states that in order to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, methane emissions must drop by 40 - 45% by 2030. 

The Methane Action Tracker evaluated retailers against indicators including emissions reporting, food waste and protein alternatives, found that US retailers including Costco and The Kroger Co. performed especially badly, ranking in the bottom 10.

Gemma Hoskins, global methane lead at Mighty Earth, said, “Food retailers are ignoring the methane problem hidden in the meat and dairy aisles and risk losing consumer trust. Methane is a superheater greenhouse gas responsible for about a quarter of the heating the planet has already experienced. But it’s short-lived, so rapid cuts would be a win for climate and nature. Retailers are uniquely positioned to urgently drive down agricultural methane emissions in their supply chains. That starts with being honest about the impact of the products they sell and working harder and faster to reduce that impact.”

It is estimated that Scope 3 emissions - the emissions generated along their supply chains - make up over 90% of European retailers’ emissions profiles, with meat and dairy driving almost half of those. Despite this, only six of the retailers assessed currently report on their scope 3 emissions. According to the Methane Action Tracker, in Europe Leclerc, Intermarché, Rewe, Mercadona, Sainsbury’s and The Kroger Co. all fail to report on Scope 3, either sufficiently or at all. 

Maddy Haughton-Boakes, senior campaigner at the Changin Markets Foundation, added, “Methane emissions are a major blind spot of supermarkets. Our scorecard reveals a complete lack of action, with the most powerful players in the food supply chains completely ignoring their government’s commitments to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030. This must change urgently.

“Some retailers acknowledge the problem and have taken small steps, but none are treating it with the urgency it demands—there are no real leaders here. Cutting methane this decade is our emergency brake on runaway global heating, yet retailers are barely pressing it. The companies that dominate our food system must step up now and take real action to slash their methane emissions.”

One of the key indicators analysed in the report is the transition to plant-based proteins. A 50% shift to plant proteins by six leading food retailers alone could save emissions equivalent to removing 25 million cars from roads in the EU. Yet the report finds that only a handful of retailers have set measurable targets for increasing alternative protein sales. Tesco, Carrefour, Schwarz Group (Lidl), and Ahold Delhaize have made commitments to grow this market segment, whereas most other retailers globally scored zero points.