Sainsbury’s has warned that the “clock is ticking” for the climate as it brought its net zero target forward from 2040.
The retailer was at risk of being shown-up by its rivals, with Tesco and Marks & Spencer announcing in September that they would achieve net zero by 2035.
It comes ahead of Cop26 in Glasgow later this month, when world leaders will gather to discuss the climate emergency.
Sainsbury’s will install LED lighting across its supermarkets by the end of the year, apparently slashing energy consumption by a fifth.
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It also pledged that stores would run off renewable electricity within the same time.
The grocer will work “collaboratively” with suppliers to reduce their emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, and to net zero by 2050.
By contrast, Marks & Spencer hopes to hit this second target 10 years earlier.
Sainsbury’s boss Simon Roberts insisted that the supermarket “continues to lead the charge” to cut greenhouse gases.
“Climate targets matter – but action to deliver them matters more,” he continued.
“The progress we’ve made has enabled us to accelerate our own targets and move faster to cut our emissions.”
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “It is fantastic to see a heavyweight brand like Sainsbury’s showing leadership by accelerating their plans to reach net zero emissions.
“I hope this will encourage other businesses to show the same level of ambition.”
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