Operational waste, which we handle in our stores, depots and offices, comes from a range of areas, including packaging from the supply chain, product damages and returns, pharmaceutical and hazardous materials, as well as customer waste from car parks, recycling bins and cafes. Our zero-waste policy guides our efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and redistribute our operational waste, and since 2019, we have sent zero waste from our operations to landfill. Our definition of zero waste is 90% of all operational waste being reused, recycled, repurposed or donated to charity, with zero waste to landfill.

Food loss and waste can happen at every stage of the supply chain and as a large retailer we recognise the vital role we play in addressing this issue. Reducing food waste can lower greenhouse gas emissions from food production, transportation and decomposition, and it can also save water, land and energy that are otherwise used to produce food that is never consumed. The reasons for food waste occurring are complex, based on things like forecasting, weather, sales, types of products left unsold and redistribution routes.

Our strategy focuses on three areas: reduction, redistribution and repurposing. While our food waste targets have proven difficult to make progress towards, we are pleased that donation and commercial redistribution continues to grow, and that we will have a greater impact with expanded redistribution routes.