Sainsbury’s is launching a new beef range that will offer a 25% lower carbon footprint compared to industry standard, making it the largest low carbon beef range ever produced in the UK.
“More customers than ever want high quality beef with a lower carbon footprint,” said Sainsbury’s director of agriculture, aquaculture and horticulture Gavin Hodgson.
“That’s why we’ve invested many years of research and development into transforming how we produce it,” he added.
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The supermarket developed the range by bringing together its dairy farmers and beef supply chains, reducing carbon through a combination of superior cattle breeding and animal management.
Measures such as strictly monitored feed and living conditions mean that healthy calves are raised in the most efficient way possible, needing less time and energy to grow, in turn emitting fewer harmful gases.
Sainsbury’s director of corporate responsibility and sustainability Ruth Cranston said: “By creating 25% lower carbon emissions, this launch is another step forward in Sainsbury’s ambition to become net zero across its own operations by 2035, and value chain by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°c.”
Sainsbury’s has also already made efforts to reduce plastic in its meat ranges, such as removing the plastic trays from its steaks and becoming the first UK retailer to vacuum pack all beef mince, delivering a 70% and 50% plastic saving respectively.
