German Supermarkets - Hitting Climate Targets and Saving Money (Madre Brava)
In our new report, released today, we reveal the most cost-effective suite of measures German food retailers can employ to meet their climate targets. Our first-of-its-kind analysis concludes that by shifting 30 per cent of their meat and milk offering to plant-based products by 2030, alongside some changes to farming practices and initiatives around food loss and waste (FLW), Germany’s supermarkets can actually save money in their pursuit of emissions reductions. The analysis is based on new research from environmental consultancy Quantis, also released today: Biggest Bang for the Buck: Cost Effective Pathways to Climate Targets in German Food Retail. The research examined the cost and emissions reduction potential of 27 separate interventions in three strategic areas: A shift to plant-rich food systems. Improved sustainable agricultural practices. Reduced food loss and waste (FLW). Based on this research, and a calculation of the total emissions reduction needed by the German food retail sector by 2030 based on current commitments, Madre Brava selected nine measures which would meet those commitments in the most cost-effective way. The basket of measures selected would reduce emissions by 24.4 MtCO2e by 2030, marginally above the 24.12 MtCO2e needed, with savings of €2.5bn. By far the most cost effective measure, with a saving of €156 per tonne of CO2 reduced, was an ambitious but realistic rebalancing of proteins towards more plants and less meat and milk. The rebalancing strategy was the only one of the three strategies which saved, rather than cost retailers money overall.