Morrisons Extends Net Zero Strategy to Cover Its Entire Supply Chain

UK supermarket group Morrisons has set out a significantly expanded climate strategy, committing to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain by 2050. The move marks a shift from a narrower operational focus toward a more comprehensive approach that captures the vast majority of the company’s climate impact. Until now, Morrisons’ net zero ambition centred on its own operations, with a target to eliminate Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035. While the revised plan extends the operational timeline, it broadens the scope considerably by bringing Scope 3 emissions into the core of the company’s long term climate commitments. Those value chain emissions represent around 98 percent of Morrisons’ total carbon footprint, making them the defining factor in its overall climate performance.

 

Under the updated strategy, Morrisons is targeting a 90 percent absolute reduction in Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, using 2019 as the baseline year. Alongside this, the company has set a specific goal to cut emissions linked to forests, land and agriculture by 72 percent over the same period. The inclusion of Forest, Land and Agriculture emissions reflects the central role of food production and sourcing in the retailer’s environmental impact. For a grocery business, emissions tied to farming practices, land use change, and deforestation can outweigh those generated in stores or distribution networks. By addressing these sources directly, Morrisons is signalling that its net zero pathway depends as much on supplier engagement and sourcing choices as on in house efficiency measures.

 

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The retailer confirmed that both its near term and long term climate targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. Validation by the SBTi is increasingly viewed by investors and stakeholders as a benchmark for credibility, particularly as scrutiny grows around the feasibility and integrity of corporate net zero claims. Andrew Edlin, Head of Sustainability at Morrisons, said the approval reinforces the seriousness of the company’s approach. He noted that extending the net zero target to the full value chain represents a major step forward, as it brings both upstream and downstream emissions into scope. That includes emissions generated during product manufacturing, in stores and transport systems, and at the end of a product’s life. Morrisons’ updated targets highlight a broader shift underway in the retail and food sectors. As operational emissions fall through energy efficiency and renewables, value chain emissions are increasingly where both risk and opportunity lie. For supermarkets, this means deeper engagement with farmers, processors, logistics providers, and packaging suppliers, as well as more transparent reporting on progress.

 

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By resetting its climate strategy around its full footprint, Morrisons is aligning its ambitions with the realities of its business model. The challenge now will be execution, particularly in reducing emissions that sit outside direct operational control. How effectively the company works with suppliers and adapts sourcing strategies will determine whether its 2050 commitment translates into durable emissions reductions rather than long term aspiration. In an environment where investors and regulators are paying closer attention to Scope 3 emissions, Morrisons’ move underscores how net zero commitments are evolving from operational pledges into whole system transformations.

 

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