Morrisons has strengthened its climate strategy with a commitment to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain by 2050, expanding its targets to include upstream and downstream impacts such as agriculture, land use and end-of-life emissions.

The supermarket’s new near- and long-term goals have been formally validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C pathway.

Under the plan, Morrisons will reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2035 and 90 per cent by 2050, using a 2019 baseline. With approximately 98 per cent of total emissions sitting in Scope 3, the retailer is targeting a 40 per cent reduction in Scope 3 energy and industrial emissions by 2035, alongside a 48.5 per cent cut in Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) emissions.

By 2050, Scope 3 emissions are set to fall by 90 per cent, with FLAG emissions reduced by 72 per cent, the company said.

“The validation of these targets reaffirms Morrisons’ commitment to sustainability and the move to a 2050 target across the full value chain is a big step forward in our journey to net zero,” said Andrew Edlin, head of sustainability at Morrisons. “We are taking upstream and downstream emissions of our operations into account including emissions created in making products, in our stores, transport systems and then end-of-life emissions too.”

Since first setting near-term SBTi-approved targets in 2021, Morrisons has achieved a 22 per cent reduction in total carbon emissions compared with 2019, including a 27 per cent cut in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The company cites sustained operational changes, energy efficiency projects, lower-carbon logistics and closer collaboration with suppliers as drivers of progress.

The updated pathway also includes a commitment to eliminate deforestation across primary deforestation-linked commodities by 31 December 2025, reflecting the growing focus on land-use impacts within grocery supply chains. The SBTi, a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and WWF, independently assesses corporate climate targets and is widely recognised as the global benchmark for best practice in emissions reduction planning.

Morrisons previously said it aims to be the first supermarket group completely supplied by net zero carbon British farms by 2030, working directly with around 3,000 farmers and growers to produce affordable net zero meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables. The retailer expects eggs to be the first products to reach net zero carbon status, followed by lamb, fruit, vegetables, pork and beef.

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