Asda has published its second Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, providing an annual update on the supermarket’s progress on the key issues which matter to its business and customers.
The supermarket has made strides in moving towards its targets and has also announced additional targets as it looks to have an even greater impact helping its communities and reduce its effect on the environment. Highlights include:
- Continued reduction in operational carbon emissions – down 35% since 2015, on the way to hitting the 50% reduction target by 2025 and to reach net zero emissions by 2040. The report includes a publication of its full carbon footprint, including scope 3 emissions for the first time.
- An 18% increase in surplus food donations to local charities in 2021 – meaning since 2018 Asda has donated over 8.2m meals from in-store donations to local communities.
- Increased the proportion of own-label packaging that can be recycled at the kerbside to 85% (with a further 4.5% recyclable in store) and once again sent zero operational waste to landfill.
- Added an additional 400 healthy Live Better product lines to bring its total to over 700, signposting customers to the healthiest products in Asda’s own brand range. Alongside this, through its Greengrocer trial, Asda invested in health and nutrition training, to promote the fresh produce category.
- Provided over £3.7m in grants to 10,000 groups through the Asda Foundation, as well as colleagues volunteering for 367,000 hours of time – equivalent to £5.15m in social value.
- Raised over £2.5 million for BBC Children in Need and supported over 18,000 children and young people with an emergency essential item using money raised in 2020.
- A new community strategy which will see a £50m investment over five years to support communities and charity partners across the UK.
Jacki Simpson, Vice President of Reputation at Asda, said: “The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for our customers which is why we are doing all we can to support them during the cost-of-living crisis whilst not losing sight of our ESG responsibilities.
We have made lots of progress across key areas, and it is extremely important that we continue to aim high and make change within our business which will have a positive effect on our planet and the communities we serve, making it easier for customers to make decisions which can have a positive impact on their environment.”
Asda’s report is available to download here.
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