n 2019 the Co-op had its goal to halve its direct emissions and reduce supply chain emissions by 11% approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) – a commitment that is aligned to the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement. This target builds on the Co-op’s previous achievement of halving its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions in the ten years since 2006.

Co-op commissioned 3Keel to deliver three pieces of work to support its climate action: update its value chain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory; identify and quantify GHG mitigation options; and finally advise on strategic options for delivering its longer-term net-zero ambitions. The project follows on from our work supporting the development of their award-wining Future of Food strategy.

During the first phase of the work, we worked with the Co-op climate change team to identify product and value chain emissions data that could be used to increase the granularity and accuracy of their Scope 3 inventory. This included using data collected as part of their work with livestock farmers and also energy data from supplier manufacturing sites. As part of this work, we also quantified the climate benefit of their investment in 100% RTRS soy. The outputs of this analysis were used in their 2019 Sustainability Report, and supported their efforts to be increasingly transparent about their whole value chain carbon footprint.

Using the insights developed during this first phase of research we then moved on to develop several quantified emissions reductions scenarios to show what actions could be taken by the business to hit its SBTi target to reduce supply chain emissions by 11% by 2025. These included interventions to further optimise packaging use, drive greater adoption of climate smart agriculture, reduce food waste and increase purchasing of renewable energy. The outputs of the work helped inform the development of new climate change projects – including a renewed commitment to work with UK farmers to reduce emissions on farms supplying the Co-op.

For the final phase of work, 3Keel partnered with Finance.Earth – a Manchester-based social enterprise that specialises in carbon finance – to explore how Co-op could look beyond 2025 and support global efforts to deliver mitigation and carbon removals in support of the Paris Agreement. This included advice on emerging corporate best practice on net-zero target-setting – and area that is become an area of specialism for 3Keel.

3Keel continues to support Co-op’s increasingly ambitious climate work – a topic that is of significant importance to their members, customers and colleagues.