Asda has announced a new diversity target to see the proportion of its general store managers rise to 30% by 2025, revealed in its annual progress report.
Published in the Big 4 grocer‘s second Environmental, Social and Governance report, Asda has highlighted its biggest achievements from last year, as it confirms it is on its way to hitting its 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025.
Also on target to reach net zero emissions by 2040, Asda has already reduced its operational carbon emissions by 35% since 2015.
The retailer has also focused on its sustainability efforts through increasing the amount of its own-label packaging as kerbside recyclable to 85%, while it sent none of its operational waste to landfill last year.
In encouraging its customers to eat a healthier diet, Asda placed 400 healthy Live Better product lines across its stores, adding to the 300 lines it featured prior to 2021.
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In terms of its social responsibilities, Asda revealed it has donated 8.2 million meals from in-store donations to local communities since 2018 and in 2021, it increased its surplus food donations to charities by 18%.
Its charity donations also amount to a further £2.5 million to BBC Children in Need, with 18,000 children and young people supported with an emergency essential item in 2020.
The retailer’s own charity, the Asda Foundation provided support to an additional 10,000 groups through £3.7 million in grants.
Asda’s ESG report also announced its new community strategy which will see a £50 million investment in a bid to support communities and its charity partners across the UK within the next five years.
“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,” Asda vice president of reputation, Jacki Simpson said.
“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.”
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