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Press release

Ahold Delhaize European brands launch climate hubs to support suppliers in carbon emission reduction

Zaandam, the Netherlands, February 13, 2024 – Ahold Delhaize’s European retail banners have launched open-source climate hubs. The hubs serve as online platforms where suppliers can gain insights into carbon emissions. Additionally, they can learn more about our commitment to reducing emissions and access resources to navigate the process of addressing and reporting them. The initiative is part of our scope 3 decarbonization pathway which involves the carbon emissions in our value chain.

Last Refreshed: 4/27/2024 12:42:40 PM
Thousands of suppliers, hundreds of thousands of products 

The hubs are open-source platforms to support suppliers in starting their decarbonization journey step-by-step, and include instruction videos and links to external resources such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).  

Jan Ernst de Groot, CLO & CSO Ahold Delhaize: “Our value chain is a complex system with thousands of suppliers, producers and farmers around the world supplying hundreds of thousands of products. These products and their related packaging materials, in turn, are composed of materials and ingredients from other suppliers. Mapping the emissions from all these products and materials is a major challenge, for which we need input from our partners. The climate hubs are a great way to encourage our suppliers to track and reduce their emissions.” 

Emission reduction targets 

Ahold Delhaize has established carbon emission reduction targets for scope 1, 2 and 31 in line with the UN’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Our scope 1 and 2 targets have been validated by SBTi and our scope 3 target is currently subject to validation.   

The majority of emissions in the brands’ value chains are from the products and services purchased from suppliers (88.1% of scope 3 emissions2). We engage suppliers to set emissions-reduction targets through the SBTi. These emissions-reduction commitments aim to support the acceleration of improvements in livestock farming, raw material sourcing, processing, transport, packaging, deforestation, food waste reduction and agricultural practices. These actions could address the majority of Ahold Delhaize’s scope 3 emissions by 2030. 

All local climate hubs are now live 

Wouter Kolk, CEO Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia: “What initially commenced as an Albert Heijn initiative, was quickly adapted by Delhaize and eventually arrived at our brands across Europe. This is a great example of the local collaboration between the brands and how we can learn from each other’s best practices.” 

Since the end of 2023 all local climate hubs for the European retail banners are live – including Albert, Albert Heijn, Alfa Beta, Delhaize Belgium, Etos, Gall & Gall, Maxi and Mega Image. The aim is to continuously develop these climate hubs, to maximize support to suppliers.

  1. See Ahold Delhaize’s 2023 Climate Plan Update for our targets and methodology.
  2. This percentage is based on 2021 data. An updated number will be published in our 2023 Annual Report.
Cautionary notice 

This communication includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words and expressions such as support, reduc(tion)/(ing)/(e), gain, insights, commit(ment(s)), journey, step-by-step, challenge, target(s), goal, majority, aim, acceleration, improvements, could, by, continuously, develop, maximize, will or other similar words or expressions are typically used to identify forward-looking statements.  

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and that may cause the actual results of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V. (the “Company”) to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the Company’s inability to successfully implement its strategy, manage the growth of its business or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions; risks relating to competition and pressure on profit margins in the food retail industry; the impact of economic conditions,  including high levels of inflation, on consumer spending; changes in consumer expectations and preferences; turbulence in the global capital markets; political developments, natural disasters and pandemics; wars and geopolitical conflicts; climate change; energy supply issues; raw material scarcity and human rights developments in the supply chain; disruption of operations and other factors negatively affecting the Company’s suppliers; the unsuccessful operation of the Company’s franchised and affiliated stores; changes in supplier terms and the inability to pass on cost increases to prices; risks related to environmental, social and governance matters (including performance) and sustainable retailing; food safety issues resulting in product liability claims and adverse publicity; environmental liabilities associated with the properties that the Company owns or leases; competitive labor markets, changes in labor conditions and labor disruptions; increases in costs associated with the Company’s defined benefit pension plans; ransomware and other cybersecurity issues relating to the failure or breach of security of IT systems; the Company’s inability to successfully complete divestitures and the effect of contingent liabilities arising from completed divestitures; antitrust and similar legislation; unexpected outcomes in the Company’s legal proceedings; additional expenses or capital expenditures associated with compliance with federal, regional, state and local laws and regulations; unexpected outcomes with respect to tax audits; the impact of the Company’s outstanding financial debt; the Company’s ability to generate positive cash flows; fluctuation in interest rates; the change in reference interest rate; the impact of downgrades of the Company’s credit ratings and the associated increase in the Company’s cost of borrowing; exchange rate fluctuations; inherent limitations in the Company’s control systems; changes in accounting standards; inability to obtain effective levels of insurance coverage; adverse results arising from the Company’s claims against its self-insurance program; the Company’s inability to locate appropriate real estate or enter into real estate leases on commercially acceptable terms; and other factors discussed in the Company’s public filings and other disclosures.  

Forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company’s management and assumptions based on information currently available to the Company’s management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.