Albert Heijn Discloses Methane Emissions In “world First” Move

Albert Heijn supermarket. Credit: Martin Bergsma/Shutterstock

Albert Heijn has disclosed its methane emissions, a move described by NGO Mighty Earth arsenic nan first by a “global supermarket”.

In nan Dutch retailer’s latest sustainability report, nan market concatenation revealed its methane emissions accounted for astir 14% of its full greenhouse-gas footprint successful 2024.

Albert Heijn, portion of nan multinational retailer Ahold Delhaize, said that “you get a overmuch much complete image of nan effect connected nan environment” pinch its CO2 disclosures including methane.

In April, a study from Mighty’s Earth titled “Taking nan Bull by nan Horns” estimated that Ahold Delhaize’s full methane emissions footprint rivals that of an full country, specified arsenic Sweden aliases Denmark.

The study estimated Ahold Delhaize’s US subsidiaries emit astir 45% of nan world group’s methane emissions from nutrient and dairy products. Meanwhile, nan estimate for nan company’s Dutch operations was astir 24% of its nutrient and dairy methane emissions.

Mighty Earth is now calling connected different awesome European supermarkets – specified arsenic Tesco, Carrefour and Lidl – arsenic good arsenic Ahold Delhaize’s different brands successful nan US, specified arsenic Stop & Shop, to travel Albert Heijn’s lead successful publically disclosing methane emissions. 

Jurjen de Waal, Netherlands head of Mighty Earth, said: “For excessively long, retailers person been telling america that it’s excessively difficult to disclose methane emissions and yet this move by Albert Heijn shows that it’s intelligibly not that difficult and it tin beryllium done.”

He added cutting methane emissions is “one of nan fastest and astir cost-effective ways of curbing world heating, and transparent methane reporting is nan first measurement towards tackling nan rumor head-on.”

“Although a breakthrough, nan aforesaid level of committedness needs to transportation crossed nan pond to Alhold Delaize’s US operations, which our study recovered relationship for almost half of nan group’s full world emissions. 

“Without urgent action from its US brands, Ahold Delhaize is risking its ambiance goals.”

De Waal added: “While not nan only solution, shifting towards plant-based diets is 1 of nan astir effective measures to trim greenhouse state emissions, particularly cultivation methane, to protect ambiance and nature.

“Retailers tin travel Albert Heijn’s lead successful this respect too, by mounting a 60:40 divided successful favour of plant-based foods by 2030.”

Just Food has asked Albert Heijn for further comment.