Ahold Delhaize’s near-term and long-term climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

May 16, 2025 – Ahold Delhaize has reached a significant milestone by gaining validation of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This includes the near-term (2030) and long-term (2040, 2050) climate targets for both Ahold Delhaize’s own operations (scope 1 and 2), and its value chain (scope 3). Through its validation process, the SBTi has determined that Ahold Delhaize’s climate targets are in conformance with the SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard and the SBTi Forest, Land and Agriculture (FLAG) Guidance, with the overall objective to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris agreement.
 

SBTi framework
SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions to play their part in combating the climate crisis. It helps companies determine a pathway for reducing their GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. The SBTi is founded by, amongst others, the United Nations Global Compact and WWF.
 

Our climate approach
As food retailers, we are aware of how climate change impacts the way food is grown and will change our business, both now and in the future. From how and where products are produced and sourced, to what our brands’ stores look like, and how we heat or cool them. A healthy planet is a key component of our Healthy communities & planet strategic priority, and our approach to addressing climate change in our company focuses on both the impact of climate change on our business, and how our business activities impact the climate. For us, this means providing affordable, healthy food while partnering to drive decarbonization, protect nature and reduce waste.
 

Emission reduction targets
For companies, there are three scopes that together encompass their total carbon footprint. Scope 1 and 2 involve the carbon emissions of a company’s own business. For Ahold Delhaize and its brands, these GHG emissions mainly entail our own energy consumption, leakages from the refrigeration systems in stores and distribution centers, as well as owned transport. Scope 3 entails the GHG emissions of our value chain. This involves amongst others the carbon footprint of (the production and transportation of) all products that are sold in our stores or on our online platforms.
 

An overview of our targets

^{*for FLAG emissions, the target includes FLAG emissions and removals. 
The near-term (2030) reduction targets cover 67% of purchased goods and services emissions, 0% of franchises and investments emissions , and 100% of emissions under capital goods, fuel and energy related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, employee commuting, use of sold products, and end-of-life treatment of sold products. The long-term (2050) reduction targets cover 90% of purchased goods and services emissions, 0% of categories 14 and 15, and 100% of emissions under the remaining scope 3 categories.}
 

Implementation of no-deforestation on total assortment
In alignment with the SBTi FLAG Guidance, Ahold Delhaize also aims for no deforestation across our primary deforestation-linked commodities (e.g. soy, palm oil, wood fiber, cocoa and coffee) with a target date of December 31, 2025.[2] 

To date, we have focused on aiming to be 100% deforestation and land conversion free in own-brand products containing soy, palm oil, wood fiber, cocoa, coffee and tea by 2025. We achieve this by:

• Sourcing own-brand products containing coffee, cocoa, palm oil and tea that are, as much as possible, certified against an accepted standard.
• Sourcing high-risk (South American) soy volume in own-brand supply chains covered by accepted physical certification or credits.
• Sourcing own-brand wood fiber-based products and packaging either certified against an accepted standard, classified as low-risk or recycled.

The requirements for accepted standards and credits are set out in our 2024 Annual Report.

While we have made good progress on no deforestation for our own brands (refer to our 2024 Annual Report), achieving no deforestation for our whole assortment is a challenge. We are activating all levers available to us, including supplier and industry engagement, sourcing strategies, and alignment with the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR). Progress towards whole assortment deforestation-free requires industry change and brining stakeholders across our value chain along on the journey. We will continue to include updates on our progress in our Annual Report.
 

Way forward
While we have done a lot of work in the past years to establish reduction targets and our climate approach, the exact road to net-zero is not clear yet. We will keep refining our approach as more information – for example from suppliers, or updated SBTi guidance– becomes available. We will keep you updated on our progress, and share our learnings and challenges as we go forward.

To learn more about our plans, please visit our annual report.  

[1] Net-zero emissions are achieved when anthropogenic emissions of GHGs to the atmosphere are balanced by anthropogenic removals over a specified period (IPCC, 2018). Ahold Delhaize will make use of removals to the extent permitted by SBTi.

[2] Commodities and products in scope of the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products will have to meet the corresponding timelines.