Five words on...

Supermarket sustainability

From Mark Given, Sainsbury’s Chief Marketing Officer

Supermarket sustainability

When it comes to climate change, no one has all the answers. But it’s by working together that we’ll have the best chance of making a positive difference.

We’re fortunate to be connected to some of the most brilliant people and organisations in the world. So we’ve been speaking to a range of experts in fields from science to business, to find out how they’re going about reaching net zero.

As part of an exclusive series of interviews for the Financial Times we chatted with Mark Given, Sainsbury’s Chief Marketing Officer. As a taster for the full interview, here are five things we learnt as Mark told us how the supermarket chain is dedicated to making sustainability affordable for its customers.

“I have a great job because I get to make a difference at scale. We have a huge influence in how the country eats.”
Mark Given Sainsbury’s Chief Marketing Officer
Did you know that world’s food supply chain makes up about 26% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions? Sustainable food choices can make a huge difference – but what about affordability?
Helping busy shoppers understand a product’s sustainability in simple terms is vital. So what if you had fun with it? A Fruit & Veg Challenge, delivered on mobile, attracted 450,000 participants.
Waste is a big unifier. Cutting back on plastic is a win-win for a supermarket’s sustainability and profitability. Even better, customers are all for it too.
Joint initiatives are essential to achieving net zero. Sainsbury’s worked with the Williams Formula 1 engineers to improve the efficiency of its refrigeration.
Supply chain emissions are over five times greater than direct emissions for the average business (!). Sainsbury’s is working with their suppliers, from dairy and beef farmers to small plant-based protein producers, to help shoppers eat sustainably.

Enjoyed this article?

You can read the interview with Mark Given in the FT.

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