A comprehensive summary of key Net Zero
and Sustainability insights from leading
retailers and foodservice companies.
MARCH 2025
NET
ZERO
Navigating
A Guide to Customer Expectations
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Navigating Net Zero can be challenging,
especially for suppliers managing diferent
sustainability expectations from retail and
foodservice customers. Many of these
customers have set ambitious targets, and
understanding how they may impact your
business is essential.
After speaking with sustainability leaders from major UK retailers
and foodservice providers, we created this guide to help
producers make sense of customer’s sustainability targets. It
outlines buyers’ short—and long-term Net Zero and sustainability
goals, highlights key initiatives already underway, and explains
what these targets could mean for you as a supplier.
A clear theme from these conversations is the commitment
of retailers and foodservice companies to collaboration,
particularly in simplifying sustainability reporting across the
supply chain. Science-based targets, validated by the Science
Based Targets initiative (SBTi), are becoming the standard for
these companies with most either already validated or working
towards it, so suppliers will likely be expected to establish their
own science-based targets.
This guide is designed to give you clarity and confidence in
your Net Zero journey. By understanding existing and potential
customers’ sustainability goals, you can take proactive steps to
align your practices, strengthen partnerships, and ensure long-
term commercial success.
IAIN CLUNIE
SF&D Partnership
Net Zero Commitment Director
Retailers
Food service
Further Information
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Quickly navigate to a customer profile by clicking
the relevant logo or visit the useful information
and support materials on the link below..
Headline Carbon
Reduction Targets
• Achieve Net Zero across the Value Chain by 2050
(SBTi validated)
Interim Carbon
Reduction Targets
Operational Scope 1 & 2 Emissions:
• 52% reduction by 2030 (SBTi validated)
• Net Zero by 2035 (SBTi validated)
Value Chain Scope 3 Emissions:
• 25% reduction by 2030 (SBTi validated)
Forestry, Land Use, and Agriculture (FLAG):
• 30.3% reduction in Scope 1 & Scope 3 FLAG Emissions
by 2030 (SBTi validated)
• 72% reduction in Scope 1 & Scope 3 FLAG Emissions
by 2050 (SBTi validated)
Other
Sustainability Targets
• 50% reduction in plastic packaging by 2025
• 50% reduction in all packaging by 2025
• 50% of plastic packaging to be made of recycled
content by 2025
• Ensuring 100% deforestation-free status for higher-
risk commodities, including paper, palm oil, and soy,
at the end of 2025.
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Key focus areas
and initiatives
Aldi has signed up for WRAP’s Food and Drink Pact to reduce ‘farm
to fork’ waste by 50% by 2030.
Partnerships with Company Shop and Too Good To Go support a
90% reduction target in food waste in owned operations by 2030.
Aldi has joined WWF’s Retailer Commitment for Nature to reduce
the environmental impact of UK shopping baskets by 50% by 2030.
What this means
for suppliers
• Aldi has committed and validated Science-Based Targets and
expects strategic suppliers to demonstrate progress towards
setting and validating their own.
• Suppliers may be required to share manufacturing emissions
data through the Manufacture 2030 platform.
• Aldi is working to significantly reduce non-recyclable plastic
so suppliers should consider innovative, recyclable, and
plastic-free packaging solutions.
Helpful links
Aldi South Climate Factsheet
Aldi UK Sustainability Report 2023
Sustainability at Aldi
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Headline Carbon
Reduction Targets
Asda is currently in the process of re-submitting
its Net Zero targets for validation by SBTi.
However, it has committed to:
• Delivering Net Zero Operational Scope 1 & 2
emissions by 2040.
• Developing a carbon transition plan aligned with
science-based targets to support the delivery of
Net Zero Value Chain Scope 3 emissions by 2050.
Interim Carbon
Reduction Targets
• 50% reduction in Operational Scope 1 & 2 emissions
by 2025.
Other
Sustainability Targets
• 100% of Asda’s packaging to be recyclable or
reusable by 2025
• All own-brand packaging is to be made with an
average of 30% recycled materials by 2025.
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Key focus areas
and initiatives
Asda’s Natural Resource Stewardship Strategy aims to drive
positive impacts across water, biodiversity, and soil, resulting in a
more sustainable and resilient value chain. Asda funds the ARLA
Customer Sustainability Programme, which explores new research,
testing, and innovations to scale sustainable practices in areas like
feed additives, herd genetics, biodiversity, and fertiliser use.
Asda is committed to WRAP’s Food and Drink Pact, aiming to
reduce ‘farm to fork’ waste by 50% by 2030.
What this means
for suppliers
• Suppliers are encouraged to engage with the Sustain & Save
Exchange (SSE) platform. Operational Scope 1 & 2 emissions
data are expected to be submitted by year-end to align with
Asda’s reporting approach.
• Asda is looking to its largest suppliers (those accounting for
80% of product carbon emissions) to share their sustainability
data through the new EcoVadis platform.
• As Asda works towards a fully measured Scope 3 reduction
target, suppliers may be expected to develop carbon
inventories and aligned reduction plans.
Helpful links
Asda Net Zero Carbon
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Headline Carbon
Reduction Target
• Achieve Net Zero across the Value Chain
by 2040 (SBTi validated)
Interim Carbon
Reduction Targets
Operational Scope 1 & 2 Emissions:
• 66% reduction by 2030 (SBTi validated)
• Net Zero by 2035 (SBTi validated)
Value Chain Scope 3 Emissions:
• 58.8% reduction by 2030 (SBTi validated)
Forestry, Land Use, and Agriculture (FLAG):
• 42.4% reduction in absolute scope 3 FLAG
emissions by 2030 (SBTi validated)
• 72% reduction in absolute scope 3 FLAG
emissions by 2040 (SBTi validated)
Other
Sustainability Targets
• No deforestation across primary deforestation-
linked commodities by the end of 2025
• 30% reduction in plastic footprint by 2025.
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Key focus areas
and initiatives
As part of a three-year partnership, Co-op and RSPB will work
together to support the ongoing restoration and long-term
management of degraded peatlands in the UK.
Co-op is collaborating on key initiatives, including the new Retailer
Net Zero Collaborative Action Programme, convened by WRAP, and
supporting the WWF’s Retailer Commitment for Nature.
In partnership with The Co-op Foundation, Co-Op launched a £3.5m
fund to support food and farming projects tackling the climate crisis
by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Successful applicants can
receive between £75k to £100k to fund projects to create a more
sustainable food and farming industry.
What this means
for suppliers
• The Co-op has committed to and validated Science-Based
Targets and may expect suppliers to demonstrate progress
toward setting and validating their own.
• Existing suppliers should be able to access new sustainability
guidelines to help them understand Co-op’s commitments,
priorities, and expectations, including reducing carbon emissions.
• Sustainability is now an even more significant part of Co-op’s
tender process. New suppliers are assessed on their commitment
to science-based targets, ability to measure product carbon
footprints, and strength of their decarbonisation plans.
• Suppliers may be required to share manufacturing emissions
data through the Manufacture 2030 platform.
Helpful links
Co-op Climate Plan
Co-operative Report: Climate Change
Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership
Headline Carbon
Reduction Target
• Achieve Net Zero across the Value Chain by 2050
Interim Carbon
Reduction Targets
Operational Scope 1 & 2 Emissions:
• 70% reduction by 2030 (SBTi validated)
Value Chain Scope 3 Emissions:
• 35% reduction by 2034 (SBTi validated)
Forestry, Land Use, and Agriculture (FLAG):
• 42.4% reduction in absolute Scope 3 FLAG
emissions by 2034 (SBTi validated)
Other
Sustainability Targets
• 100% of the palm oil and soy used to create
own-brand products must be from sustainable,
deforestation-free sources
• 100% of own-brand plastic packaging will be
widely recyclable, reusable or refillable by 2025
• 50% increase in the recycled content of
own-brand packaging by 2025.
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Navigating Net Zero: A Guide to Customer Expectations
Delivered by
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership