Emissions have been reduced through major initiatives and improvements in the areas of energy, refrigerants, logistics and goods transports. ICA offsets all remaining emissions from its own operations through carbon credits.

“This shows that it is possible to do something about the climate issue. Although the challenges are great, it is fully possible to reduce emissions at the rate needed,” comments Per Strömberg, President and CEO of ICA Gruppen. “But this isn’t something that happens by itself. I am incredibly proud that we have done this together. Every truck that has been driven on renewable fuel, every converted refrigerant and every energy efficiency improvement has been a step along the way.”

In 2020 ICA Gruppen launched a new climate ambition as guidance for its work going forward. By 2030 at the latest, ICA Gruppen will have net zero climate emissions* from its own operations. In addition, climate emissions from customers’ purchases will be cut in half. For suppliers, ICA Gruppen has a previously set target that they will adopt science-based climate targets by 2025 at the latest.

“We are proud, but not satisfied,” comments Kerstin Lindvall, Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at ICA Gruppen. “The work must continue based on science. We know that our largest impact comes from the actual production of food and that by including customers’ purchases as well as our suppliers in this ambition, we hope to be able to leverage our strength to influence the entire value chain.”

During 2020 ICA’s Växa (“Grow”) initiative was also launched, which will play a large and important role in the ambition to cut the climate impact of customers’ grocery purchases in half. ICA Växa is a major initiative that aims to increase the share of Swedish-produced, plant-based food through scale-up* programmes, collaboration and open innovation, and by promoting local ecosystems.

ICA’s climate emissions

• In 2006 climate emissions from ICA’s own operations (warehouses, offices, stores, pharmacies and transports) totalled 320,522 tonnes CO2e, or 111 kg CO2e per square metre.
• In 2020 climate emissions from ICA’s own operations totalled 92,121 tonnes CO2e, or 26 kg CO2e per square metre.
• All emissions in 2020 have been offset through carbon credits from carefully selected products in forest preservation and planting, renewable energy and biofuels in countries in ICA’s supply chain. The carbon offsetting is conducted through the organisation South Pole.

ICA’s climate ambition

• ICA will achieve at least a net zero climate impact from own operations by 2030 at the latest**
• ICA will cut the impact of customers’ grocery purchases in half by 2030
• ICA’s suppliers will adopt science-based climate targets by 2025 at the latest***
Read more ICA Växa

* By first testing on a small scale and then scaling up cooperation.
** ICA’s intention is to follow the Science Based Targets Initiative definition and standards for net zero, which are expected to be made public in 2021, and to have the target approved by the organisation.
*** ICA Gruppen’s suppliers, representing 70% of the upstream climate impact, will have adopted science-based climate targets by 2025 at the latest.

For more information

ICA Gruppen press service
Telephone number: +46 (0)10 422 52 52
ica.se, icagruppen.se