As part of our Recipe for Change, we’re reducing carbon emissions across our operations and value chain.

We’re working to achieve Science Based Target initiative-approved emissions reduction goals by 2030. These goals include reducing emissions in our own operations by 47% (scopes 1 & 2) and in our downstream emissions from the use of sold goods by 27% by 2030, as well as engaging our top suppliers to set science-based targets by 2026. Looking beyond our 2030 goals, we’re striving to achieve net zero emissions in our own operations by 2040.

As part of our 2030 carbon reduction goal, Albertsons Companies created a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions and engage our larger value chain. Our focus areas are as follows:

  • Scope 1: Reduce emissions from our refrigeration systems.
  • Scope 2: Reduce and optimize our energy demand and increase procurement of renewable energy.
  • Scope 3: Engage our top suppliers to set science-based carbon reduction goals and create innovative opportunities to reduce the emissions from the fuel that customers buy and use.

Refrigeration

We have developed a roadmap to reduce our refrigerant leak rate and convert to lower climate-impact refrigerants in company operations. In 2023, we converted more than 90 stores to lower climate-impact refrigerants, and our 22 distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities primarily use ammonia refrigeration systems. We also expanded our use of automatic leak detection systems to enhance our leak detection capabilities and maintain system efficiency. 

We leverage strategic partnerships to continue to make progress in this space. We are members of the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council which aims to provide recruitment, training and retention programs to combat the critical shortage of refrigeration technicians. We are also a customer collaborator in The Clean Fight, an accelerator program focused on decarbonizing the food service supply chain in New York state, including the storage, distribution and retail sale of food.

Electricity

Energy savings can have a big impact on the environment. We are investing in energy efficiency technologies to reduce our electricity usage in our stores, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and offices. We completed more than 500 energy efficiency projects across Albertsons Companies’ operations in 2023 to reduce our energy demand. Projects included installing LED lighting retrofits, doors on refrigerated cases and building management systems.

We partner with third-party companies to generate renewable energy, where feasible. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership ranked Albertsons Companies number 17 in their Top 30 Retail Partner rankings for calendar year 2023. We also have two utility-grade wind turbines at our Tracy, California distribution center, and at the end of 2023, we had more than 50 locations with on-site solar generation. 

Transportation

We continue to explore opportunities that reduce the environmental impact of our fleet, including utilizing zero-emission electric vehicles to supplement our existing distribution operations. At the end of 2023, the Albertsons Companies fleet had 23 electric-terminal tractors, nine battery-electric refrigerated trailers and two battery-electric class 8 day cab tractors in operation. In our distribution operations, more than 99% of our forklifts are electric. 

Electric Vehicle Charging

As part of our efforts to support the planet we share, we also strive to help our customers reduce their carbon footprints. At the end of 2023, we had nearly 400 electric vehicle chargers across our portfolio that provided more than 17 million kWh to our customers through over 818,000 charging sessions. This is enough energy to drive the average electric vehicle more than 47 million miles.