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15 November 2022
The Shoprite Group’s near-term science-based greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
In its Target Validation Report, the SBTi stated it commends the Group’s “ambitious 1.5°C-aligned target, currently the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process”.
The SBTi mobilises companies to set science-based targets. It is a partnership between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The Group has committed to reducing its absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 (using 2020 as the baseline). It has also committed to reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from the use of products it sells by 25% during the same timeframe.
The retailer has also set a long-term GHG emissions reductions target in line with reaching net zero by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
STBi approves and commends the Shoprite Group’s emissions targets.
In its position statement on climate change - which supports the UNFCCC goal of limiting global warming - the Group outlines the two focused objectives which informs its response; namely a) reducing GHG emissions and continuously improving energy efficiency in its direct operations and its supply chain by engaging with suppliers and b) strengthening the resilience and adaptive capacity of its operations and that of the communities in which it operates.
Earlier this year, the Group finalised sustainability-linked loans totalling R3.5 billion to expand on the substantial investments it has already made in key environmental programmes. In the previous financial year it:
- Reduced carbon emission intensity by 3.3% and water use intensity by 7.5%;
- Increased the installed capacity of its solar photovoltaic (PV) systems by 82%;
- Reduced electricity consumption by 150 million kWh through its LED lamp replacement project;
- Recycled and reused 46 102 tons of cardboard from stores and distribution centres, and diverted 10 241 tons of plastic waste from landfills; and
- Paid more than R840 000 in rebates to customers for reusing their Planet Bags.