Dive Brief:
- Target on Tuesday introduced a new climate policy and sustainability goals, aiming to reduce its absolute Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect, from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam) greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2015 levels by 2025.
- The retailer is also developing a Scope 3 plan to decrease emissions generated through the manufacturing and distribution of products, business travel, guests using its products and other indirect sources, the company said in a blog post.
- The plan is to ramp up the use of renewable solar and wind power to offset energy used at its facilities, increasing the energy-efficiency of heating and lighting sources in stores, actively managing our refrigerant inventory and exploring new programs, the company said.
Dive Insight:
Target has been working hard to reach sustainability goals, regularly expanding its programs and initiatives.
The country's fourth-largest retailer also runs a sustainable packaging initiative as well as a chemical elimination project, which includes the eradication of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEs) in any products sold by Target by 2020. It's also determined to increase transparency of sourcing within its supply chain, always a challenge beyond the usual Tier-1 suppliers.
The company will likely continue its efforts to benefit the environment. “Target has long been committed to making our business more sustainable, which leads to a stronger, cleaner supply chain and operations, and a healthier environment for our team members and guests," Lee Henderson, Public Relations Manager at Target told Supply Chain Dive.
In fact, the company has seen great success in reducing emissions at its facilities. Since 2006, the retailer has partnered with utility providers through demand response programs that limit its energy use. The initiative has grown ever since, setting an example for green supply chain, and may yet expand with its Scope 3 goals.
"We will leverage learnings through various initiatives, like Target’s demand response programs, as we increase our efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions," Henderson added. Perhaps its signature red circle should turn green?
