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.