Asda has published its fifth Environmental, Social and Governance Report, updating stakeholders on progress made toward ESG targets in 2024. The UK retailer reported a 48% reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions since 2021, positioning the company to meet its 2025 goal of a 50% reduction.
The company achieved a 12% reduction in operational carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) between 2023 and 2024. The reduction was driven by Asda’s investment in two new Bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas) refueling facilities in 2024, which significantly reduced the company’s carbon emissions from transportation operations.
“Our ESG report highlights how Asda delivers value beyond price. We’ve made progress towards reducing emissions, improving packaging recyclability, and supporting causes our customers care about,” said Helen Selby, General Counsel and Company Secretary at Asda. “Our ambition is to continue to be a business that improves every day and provides ever better support to the communities we serve.”
Sustainable agriculture, packaging innovation and waste
In 2024, Asda achieved full Leaf Marque certification across its UK fresh produce growers, covering over 500 operations. This marks progress in supporting sustainable farming practices and improving water management, biodiversity, and soil health outcomes on farms supplying Asda’s fresh produce.
The retailer increased the proportion of own-brand packaging that can be recycled to 97.5%. Packaging innovations implemented in 2024 include relaunching Asda’s Just Essentials fresh beef mince in new vacuum-packed packaging, achieving a 60% packaging reduction and removing 43 tonnes of plastic. The company further reduced the weight of Asda’s Prosecco bottles by 4.8%, cutting 26.5 tonnes of glass annually.
On top of this, a new packaging format for Asda’s laundry capsules has moved from plastic tubs to cardboard boxes, leading to the removal of 105 trucks from roads annually.
The company has also marked notable progress towards reducing waste. Asda achieved 87.7% of operational waste reused, recycled, or redistributed with no waste to landfill, an improvement from 86.7% in 2023. It is working toward a target of 90% by the end of 2025.
In what Asda described as a UK supermarket first, the retailer launched the sale of refurbished TVs, supporting environmental strategy and circular economy goals by extending product life and incorporating recycled materials.
Social impact and community investment
Asda announced an 80 million British pounds investment in retail pay to increase hourly rates for store-based colleagues to £12.60 this year. The investment brings Asda’s total investment in retail pay to more than half a billion since 2021.
The company raised over £8.9 million for its Tickled Pink breast cancer campaign — the largest amount raised in a single year — and £3.9 million for BBC Children In Need. Over £3.2 million in Asda Foundation grants were awarded to 2,797 community groups.
The full 2024 ESG report is available on Asda’s corporate website, providing detailed performance data across environmental, social, and governance metrics.
