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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Sainsburys Unveils 1bn Plan For Sustainability

Sainsburys Unveils 1bn Plan For Sustainability

12 October 2011

Sainsbury's today (12 October) has unveiled a new £1bn plan which sets out 20 sustainability targets to be achieved by 2020

Planned initiatives include carbon-saving technologies for new and existing stores that will drive down energy usage, thereby reducing energy costs. There will also be an increased focus on providing customers with more British food as the company seeks to double the amount it currently sells, as well as a target to increase sales of fairly traded products to £1bn.

The plan was met with praise by PM David Cameron, who said: "I welcome today's announcement from Sainsbury's. It is a great example of the principles of Every Business Commits - helping to create jobs and growth whilst also tackling our shared social and environmental challenges, investing in their workforce and in our communities, and building a bigger, stronger society."

The targets are intended to help shift everyday behaviour in favour of sustainability and will also help shoppers make more nutritious, sustainable and ethical purchasing decisions.

Sainsbury's chief executive, Justin King, said: "Given the scale of our business, we believe these 20 commitments represent the most ambitious sustainability targets in our industry.

"If we are to meet the sustainability challenges that lie ahead, it is important that companies such as Sainsbury's invest in the future right now. We do not see this plan as a luxury; it is rather, an essential investment that will ensure we can continue to provide customers with quality food at fair prices, sustainably.

"The 20 by 20 shows customers that they can indeed have greater quality at lower prices, without compromising on standards or their values."

The commitments address four key areas of focus:

Sustainable and Healthy Products - including Best for British: By 2020, we'll double the amount of British food we sell.

Operational Excellence - including Operational carbon emission reduction: By 2020, we'll have reduced our operational carbon emissions by 30 per cent absolute and 65 per cent relative, compared with 2005.

Colleagues - including 20 years service: By 2020, 20,000 of our colleagues will have reached 20 years service at Sainsbury's.

Communities - including New jobs and skills: By 2020, we'll create 50,000 new jobs in the UK.

Among its environmental inititives the supermarket has set out targets to increase sourcing British foods, to which National Farmers Union president said, Peter Kendall, said: "We're delighted to see Sainsbury's commitment to double its sourcing of British food …This additional demand will send a really positive signal to the industry at a time when farmers are facing massive investment pressures."

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "The food chain is of huge economic and environmental importance… More and more we're seeing that consumers want to know that their food has been produced to higher standards of welfare and sustainability, supports farming and rural communities, and generates as little excess packaging as possible - so I'm delighted that these priorities are at the heart of the 20 by 20 initiative."

Download Sainsbury's 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan PDF 1.34MB. For more information on Sainsbury's Corporate Responsibility targets, please visit http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/cr or download the PDF.