Global food retailers are ‘failing to get to grips’ with the methane emissions generated by their meat and dairy supply chains, a new study by the Changing Markets Foundation and Mighty Earth has claimed.
The study, which examined the supply chains of 20 retailers globally, including Ahold Delhaize, Carrefour, Lidl, Tesco, and Walmart, claimed that none currently report on their methane emissions, or have set methane emissions reduction targets.
These retailers are ‘drastically missing the mark when it comes to tackling significant methane emissions within their supply chains,’ the study noted, ‘which make up a notable proportion of overall methane emissions – estimated to be one-third of retailers’ total emissions’.
Methane Action Tracker
The Changing Markets Foundation and Mighty Earth used their Methane Action Tracker to measure supermarkets’ progress against 18 indicators, to examine the link between their meat and dairy supply chains and methane emissions.
It found that 19 out of the 20 scored less than 50%, with only one, Tesco, achieving a score of 51%. US retailers, including Costco and Kroger, performed particularly poorly, according to the study.
“Food retailers are ignoring the methane problem hidden in the meat and dairy aisles and risk losing consumer trust,” commented Gemma Hoskins, global methane lead at Mighty Earth.
“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.”
Scope 3 emissions
Elsewhere, analysis into reporting of Scope 3 emissions found that just six of the 20 retailers currently report on Scope 3, with many retailers, including E.Leclerc, Intermarché, Rewe, Mercadona, Sainsbury’s and The Kroger Co failing to report on their Scope 3 emissions.
The groups are urging retailers to set a target to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, and increase transparency by reporting on these emissions annually.
“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,” added Maddy Haughton-Boakes, senior campaigner at the Changing Markets Foundation. “This must change urgently.” Read more here.
