5 ways we’re making a difference

At Loblaw, we know that as a large and diverse company, we have a responsibility to operate responsibly and ethically. Our ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy is focused on making a positive impact in two key areas: fighting climate change and advancing social equity. 

To achieve these goals, we've set ambitious targets in five focus areas: reaching carbon net-zero, eliminating food waste, tackling plastic waste, becoming Canada’s most diverse and inclusive employer, and supporting the health and well-being of women and children. We're committed to being transparent about our progress – both the successes and the challenges – because we know that accountability is key to driving real change. 

Want to know how we’re making a difference? As part of our Q4 earnings last week, we included an early release of our priority 2024 ESG disclosures, delivering a robust and transparent update for our stakeholders.  

Here are five key takeaways:  

1. We're Reducing Carbon Emissions: We're making great progress on our goal to fight climate change. In 2024, we completed over 500 projects to reduce our carbon footprint and achieved a 16% reduction in our direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) compared to our 2020 baseline.   

2. Saying Goodbye to Plastic:  We're tackling plastic waste head-on. Over 90% of our control brand and in-store plastic packaging now meets the in-scope Global Design Rules.  

3. Reducing Food Waste, Feeding Communities: We're committed to reducing food waste in our operations. In 2024, we diverted over 82,500 metric tonnes of food waste from landfills. That includes donating more than 17,500 metric tonnes to food banks and charities across the country. 

4. Fighting Hunger, Feeding Futures: We believe everyone deserves access to nutritious food. In 2024, we donated over $212 million (including in-kind donations) to charitable programs across the country. This includes supporting President’s Choice Children’s Charity who will reach more than 997,000 students nationwide this school year (2024/2025) in pursuit of their goal to feed one million children annually by 2025.  

5. Building a More Equitable Tomorrow: We're committed to creating a workplace and a world where everyone feels welcome and respected. We've provided fundamental Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training to 198,000 colleagues and employees since 2020 and continue to champion initiatives that advance social equity. 

Want to learn more? You can find the 2024 ESG Early Disclosure here(Open in a new tab). Our comprehensive 2024 ESG Report will be released later this spring and will include a fulsome update on our ESG performance.