Last year we came together to commit to halving the environmental impact of UK baskets by 2030 through taking action across our most material impact areas: climate, deforestation, diet, agriculture, marine, food waste and packaging. We have taken a science-based approach to prioritise our collective work, and in line with the findings of this report that supply chains can contribute up to 90% of supermarket greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This requires our urgent attention and, with WWF and WRAP, we are supporting our suppliers to reduce their GHG emissions across our highest impact categories.

We also recognise that we cannot tackle the climate crisis without halting nature loss. We’ve accelerated action here, using our convening power to advocate for measures to tackle deforestation linked to our soy supply chains, and to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture both in the UK and overseas.

WWF’s report leaves no one in any doubt that swift action is required, and highlights that achieving this goal is vital for the future of nature and our planet. We know we will need to collaborate on a scale the industry has not seen before and are encouraged that nine of the eleven major UK supermarkets have engaged with WWF this year to provide data for this report.

We take this opportunity to restate our commitment to work with the whole of society, including WWF, our customers, our suppliers and the Government to halve the environmental impact of the UK shopping basket by 2030. We believe that this goal is achievable and is vital for the future of nature, our planet, our businesses and, crucially, our customers.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury's CEO said: “Time is running out. Global warming is accelerating the climate crisis and biodiversity loss and we know the food system is a key contributor. At Sainsbury’s we know that we not only have a responsibility to our customers, colleagues and communities we serve here in the UK, but to those we source from globally, to reduce the impact our business has on the environment whilst restoring and regenerating nature wherever we can. The progress we’ve made over the last decade has enabled us to accelerate our own targets and move faster to cut our emissions, however this WWF report has made clear that across our industry we all need to intensify our efforts and be more ambitious in our pursuits to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. That’s why we committed to the WWF Retailer’s Commitment for Nature and to working to halve the environmental impact of UK shopping baskets by 2030. We are working together as an industry to drive the change we need to see, putting competitive advantage aside and recognising the urgent need to go further, faster and together to deliver for climate and nature."

Click here to read the full report.

Click here to read WWF's retailers' commitment for nature - climate action plan.