Asda cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 16 per cent last year, according to figures published by the supermarket for the first time.

The figures are part of the retailer’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting requirements published in its annual report & accounts for the year ending 31st December 2020.

They show that Asda generated 555,271 tCO2e (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) during 2020 across its entire UK operations including all offices, depots, distribution centres and stores – a year-on-year reduction of 109,199 tCO2e.

The supermarket said that it is continuing to invest in low carbon technologies across its stores and depots as part of its long-term strategy to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions - relative to its 2015 baseline - by 50 per cent by 2025 and become a net-zero carbon business by 2040.

These investments include moving its entire HGV delivery fleet from diesel to gas by 2024. This comes after a successful pilot showed vehicles powered by biomethane reduced CO2 emissions by more than 80 per cent.

Asda has already rolled out 300 gas-powered trucks and has another 200 on delivery next year.

The retailer said it would continue to reduce refrigerant gases, which account for 20 per cent of Scope 1 emissions, through the introduction of new low-carbon refrigeration technology next year, which it claimed will reduce direct emissions by more than 90 per cent when rolled out to all stores.

“We remain focussed on halving our direct carbon emissions by 2025 and will continue to embrace new technology and focus on efficiency across our fleet, stores and depots, as well as using renewable sources whenever possible to hit this target,” said Susan Thomas, director of commercial sustainability, Asda. “In line with the wider commitments we set out in our first ESG report published recently, we will continue to be transparent about our progress against these targets.”

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