Sainsbury's Sustainability Plan contains 20 sustainability targets to be achieved by 2020. (Photo: Sainsbury's/FIS)

Sainsbury's rolls out ambitions and far-reaching sustainability plan

Sainsbury's this week revealed a new GBP 1 billion (EUR 1.15 billion) plan in an effort to lead the way of sustainability between now and 2020. The Sainsbury's 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan contains 20 sustainability targets to be achieved by 2020.

Its commitments address four key areas of focus:

• Sustainable and Healthy Products, including Best for British, which means the company intends to double the amount of British food sold. Besides, all the fish sold will be independently certified as sustainable;
• Operational Excellence, including operational carbon emission reduction to cut emissions by 30 per cent absolute and 65 per cent relative, compared with 2005;
• Colleagues, meaning that by 2020, 20,000 of its colleagues will have reached 20 years service at Sainsbury's; and
• Communities, meaning that by 2020, Sainsbury's will create 50,000 new jobs in the UK.

The firm, which enjoys 21 million customers and operates nearly 1,000 stores, said the 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan was the most ambitious and comprehensive scheme ever announced in the industry, The Guardian reports.

Sustainable mackerel fisheries. (Photo: Sainsbury's)

Initiatives in the works include carbon-saving technologies for new and existing stores that will lower energy usage and slash energy costs.

"Geothermal's going to be a big one," said Neil Sachdev, property director at Sainsbury's, Business Green reports. "I see circa 10 stores using it and more going forward, [while] solar panels are now also becoming standard. We're trying to think about energy security... and taking lessons from the Hythe and Crayford stores and learning to retrofit the technology."

Further, focus will increase on providing customers with more British food as well as a target to boost sales of fairly traded products to GBP 1 billion (EUR 1.15 billion).

Fish processing plant. (Photo: Sainsbury's)

"I welcome today's announcement from Sainsbury's,” said David Cameron, MP and Prime Minister. “It is a great example of the principles of Every Business Commits - helping to create jobs and growth whilst also tackling our shared social and environmental challenges, investing in their workforce and in our communities, and building a bigger, stronger society."

Chief executive Justin King. (Photo: Sainsbury's)

Sainsbury's chief executive, Justin King, called the plan an essential investment in the future.

"If we are to meet the sustainability challenges that lie ahead, it is important that companies such as Sainsbury's invest in the future right now. We do not see this plan as a luxury, it is rather, an essential investment that will ensure we can continue to provide customers with quality food at fair prices, sustainably,” he commented.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman noted that consumers are increasingly interested in the origin of their food.

"More and more we're seeing that consumers want to know that their food has been produced to higher standards of welfare and sustainability, supports farming and rural communities, and generates as little excess packaging as possible - so I'm delighted that these priorities are at the heart of the 20 by 20 initiative," she added.

Related article:

- Sainsbury's sustainable fish campaign tremendous success

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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