Tesco and Target Join 113 Businesses Pledging to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Retail giants Tesco and Target have agreed to improve their water security and reduce carbon emissions and deforestation across their supply chains. The pledges are part of a supply chain program launched by CDP, a non-profit charity that works to lessen the environmental impacts of major corporations.

The CDP now has 115 companies signed up to its program, an increase from 99 last year, Business Green reported. The 115 businesses, which include Barclays, PepsiCo, Vodafone, and BMW, hold a cumulative purchasing power of $3.3 trillion. The commitments have resulted in more than 11,000 global suppliers being urged to improve their processes and provide environmental data so that the retailers can better navigate their own eco-footprints.

New research unveiled that retail supply chains can emit seven times more emissions than other firms. Sonya Bhonsle, head of the supply chain at CDP, told Business Green, “It’s very encouraging to see so many of the world’s biggest buyers taking supply chain sustainability seriously.”

“By requesting data from their suppliers, they are shining a light on the risks hidden deep within their production chains – and uncovering a myriad of opportunities for reducing their overall environmental footprint, boosting innovation and cutting costs,” she said.

Walmart is one major name involved in the CDP supply chain program. Walmart vowed to decrease its emissions by one gigaton (one billion metric tonnes) by 2030. Ariane Grazian, Walmart’s senior manager of sustainability, told Business Green, “In year one, Project Gigaton has helped inspire action that has led to the avoidance of 20 million metric tons of emissions and has expanded into China and the UK with participation from over 400 suppliers with operations in over 30 countries.”

This monitoring of global emissions and active efforts to reduce them comes at a crucial time, as corporations and the public alike recognize the planet’s deteriorating state. Businesses are removing single-use plastic from their products and replacing animal-based menu items with vegan options to reduce their impact on the environment. On an individual level, people are choosing to ditch meat, dairy, and eggs from their diets in an effort to live more sustainably.

On its website, CDP writes: “Our vision is for a thriving economy that works for both people and planet. Together, we can tip the balance and achieve this vision.”