US Foods aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32.5% from 2019 to 2032, a goal the food distribution company said it has submitted to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for approval.
Its plans to slash emissions include decreasing miles driven, using new vehicle technology and investing in alternative fuels including compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas and renewable diesel fuel.
Additionally, the company said it looks to add 30 electric vehicle trucks by 2023 and will continue to invest in renewable energy through solar array installations.
Late last month, US Foods announced the opening of its most sustainable distribution center to date. The distribution center, located in Sacramento, is awaiting LEED certification for the construction and design of the facility.
“These ongoing investments are a testament to our dedication to reducing our organization’s environmental footprint,” said Kristin Coleman, leader of Corporate Social Responsibility at US Foods, in a statement, “The expansion of our facility and fleet efficiency initiatives are a critical part of US Foods’ long-range sustainability plans to drive end-to-end change.”
In addition to reducing its own carbon emissions, US Foods said it is committed to addressing “Scope Three” emissions, or those indirectly related to the company through its value chain. US Foods said it plans to work with its suppliers to set science-based targets in that area by 2027.
Research published last month suggested that many carbon emissions goals in the food industry aren’t aggressive enough to meet an industry-wide goal of reducing emissions by 37.6%. This goal is what the SBTi says is required to ensure the earth’s temperature doesn’t raise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.