Woolworths aims to reduce direct emissions from its operations to 60 per cent below 2015 levels by 2030 and has pledged to eventually adopt a target ‘in line with the level of carbon reduction required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels’ through the SBTi initiative (Woolworths Group 2019).

In an effort to monitor and minimise energy consumption, Woolworths has linked its 995 Australian stores to an Energy Management Centre of Excellence. Analysis of heating, ventilation and cooling system data gathered through the centre has identified ‘over 1,500 changes equating to potential energy savings of $1.3 million’.

Other emissions-reduction initiatives include the installation of solar panels on some stores and distribution centres, the trial of an electric delivery truck, phasing out the use of refrigerants that cause global warming and limiting deforestation from production of some own brand products.