Scope 3 emissions are those which are generated indirectly through our supply chain, including carbon emitted by our suppliers (upstream) and from the use and disposal of our products (downstream). They account for 98 per cent of our total emissions and are widely recognised as the most complex to reduce. Tackling them requires deep collaboration across sectors and supply chains.
We’ve set bold targets aligned to the most ambitious SBTi requirements and are fully committed to closing the gap on Scope 3 through partnership, innovation and influence.
Net Zero
Achieve net zero in our value chain by 2050
FLAG Emissions
Reduce Scope 3 forest, land and agriculture (FLAG) emissions by 36.4% by 2030
Non-FLAG emissions
Reduce Scope 3 non-FLAG target (transport, energy and industry) to 50.4% by 2030
51.6%
of our Scope 3 emissions are covered by suppliers with any 1.5oC targets approved by the SBTi
'A' rating
in our 2025 CDP climate change disclosure for the 12th year running
Collaboration
We collaborate with our industry through membership of WRAP and the Carbon Removals Taskforce and through our use of the Secaro platform
Our areas of focus
Collaboration and partnership with our suppliers is critical to achieving our Scope 3 reduction ambitions. We focus on priority suppliers to drive targeted action, building decarbonisation roadmaps for key hotspots such as fuel, agriculture and electricals. Alongside improving measurement and reporting, we actively contribute to IGD industry working groups to accelerate upstream and downstream progress through shared learning and coordinated action.
Driving action in hotspots
We have identified three key emission hotspots: agriculture, electricals and fuel. We are working closely with our suppliers in these areas to learn about their progress, develop decarbonisation roadmaps and innovate together to reduce the carbon footprint of our products. These roadmaps are built around shared data, clear reduction levers and measurable milestones, enabling us to track progress and prioritise action where it matters most. This work is already underway through our Making it Happen Action Groups and is supported by our involvement in industry-wide initiatives, helping to accelerate progress across the value chain.
Improving measurement and reporting approaches
This year we have worked with a new strategic data partner to support our product carbon footprinting and scope 3 reporting. We have enhanced the granularity and specificity of our emission factors and are beginning to incorporate primary data from our most material supply chains into our inventory. This enables us to more confidently identify where our emissions are most material, to drive action and report on progress.
Making diets more sustainable
We know making dietary shifts can have significant impacts on climate change. That is why we are encouraging more diverse and ‘better’ meat, fish, poultry and dairy and more plant-rich choices, through multibuys, our Aldi Price Match range and our healthy choice challenge. Through sustainable sourcing we are also making our meat less carbon-intensive, providing our customers with more sustainable choices and supporting our farming supply chain.
Find out more about our approach to healthy and sustainable diets Collaborating and engaging with suppliers
We prioritise supplier engagement and actively encourage our suppliers to join us on this journey to understand their carbon footprints and set 1.5 degree aligned SBTi targets to drive their emissions reduction.. 51.6 per cent of our emissions are now covered by suppliers with any 1.5-degree target approved by the SBTi, We maintain active engagement with our suppliers through our own brand supplier Making it Happen Action Groups, fostering collaborative innovation to reduce the carbon footprint of our products.
Working with our suppliers Collaborating with our industry
We continue to work to drive progress on the reduction of Scope 3 emissions through industry collaboration groups, including the Carbon Removals Taskforce, Institute of Grocery Distribution and WRAP. Our CEO, Simon Roberts, has also been appointed as a retailer on the UK Government’s new Food Strategy Advisory Board, supporting the development of a forward-thinking National Food Strategy.
Read more about how we are working with industry 
Case study
Transitioning to eggs with a lower carbon footprint
We are making progress on transitioning our shell eggs from brown to white eggs, aiming towards 100 per cent in our own brand core ranges.
Commissioning a lifecycle assessment with three of our egg suppliers, white eggs were found to have a 12.7 per cent lower carbon footprint than our brown eggs. This is largely due to better feed conversion and the longer productive lifespan of the white hens. Additionally, white hens are less prone to feather pecking, leading to higher animal welfare outcomes.
Transitioning to white eggs helps us to support our customers to make more sustainable dietary choices, while still maintaining the excellent taste, quality and nutrition they expect. This initiative has benefits across multiple areas of our Plan for Better, including carbon and animal health and welfare, and exemplifies our approach of collaborating with our suppliers to build a more resilient food system in the UK.
Case study
Conventional mushrooms grown without peat
In their natural, wet state, peatlands are a critical nature-based solution to sequester carbon and provide valuable habitats. In October 2024, we became the first UK supermarket to launch conventional mushrooms grown without peat, in close collaboration with our supplier Monaghan, which spent ten years researching peat alternatives. The new range will remove 20,465 tonnes of peat from mushroom production each year.
This change not only protects vital peatland ecosystems but also significantly reduces our Scope 3 emissions, as peat extraction and use are major sources of carbon release. By eliminating peat, we’re cutting emissions embedded in our supply chain and moving closer to our climate targets.
Case study
Lower carbon beef range
Working with ABP Food Group and more than 540 trusted British farmers, we launched a new reduced carbon, grass and forage fed Taste the Difference Aberdeen Angus beef range into over 60 stores, offering high quality, great tasting products, with 25% reduced carbon compared to the industry average.
By integrating our dairy and beef supply chains, we have been able to produce a reduced carbon, fully traceable product, from farm to fork providing farmers with greater security and stability, resulting in a more sustainable, highly consistent, and traceable beef product for our customers.
