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With over 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide in the short term, methane is a fast-acting climate pollutant that poses a critical threat to our planet. While much of the focus has been on oil and gas companies, the retail sector plays a surprisingly influential role in methane production. Despite this, many retailers have been slow to acknowledge or address their part in the problem. Maddy Haughton-Boakes (pictured left), senior campaigner at the Changing Markets Foundation, and Gemma Hoskins (pictured right), global methane lead at Mighty Earth, reveal what retailers can do to lead the charge towards a cleaner, lower-emissions future.

As the food sector gets to grips with the escalating climate and nature crisis, we are increasingly seeing companies across the food value chain – including retailers – publish commitments to sustainability and celebrate progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

But there is an elephant in the aisle. Meat and dairy production is the largest contributor to methane emissions globally and accounts for approximately one-third of supermarkets’ climate footprints. Despite the outsized impact of methane on global warming, it remains a blind spot for many of the world’s largest food retailers.

We are seeing early signs of movement from other actors in the food sector, with Danone setting a methane reduction target and companies like Nestlé, who are signed up to the Dairy Methane Action Alliance, starting to report their substantial methane emissions. However, our recent investigation found that none of the top 20 food retailers globally report on their methane emissions or have set methane emissions reduction targets.

With a warming effect 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years, methane presents a major climate threat, but rapidly cutting emissions this decade offers a significant opportunity to reduce further climate breakdown. The current inaction from retailers is not just a failure of leadership; it’s a missed opportunity to drive meaningful change across the entire food system.

It is more urgent than ever that food retailers set a target to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, in line with the Global Methane Pledge, and seize all the opportunities available to them to tackle these emissions head-on.

Moving away from meat and dairy

The world’s largest supermarkets wield immense influence over the food supply chain, from producers and farmers to manufacturers and consumers. Their decisions shape what ends up on our plates and, by extension, the environmental impact of current diets.

However, while retailers spend billions on advertising, often touting their sustainability credentials, they have failed to address the outsized methane emissions from meat and dairy products.

The numbers are staggering. The combined methane emissions of just five of the world’s largest meat corporations and ten of the largest dairy corporations total roughly 12.8 million tonnes. For food retailers, Scope 3 emissions, those generated from the production, use and disposal of the products they sell, can account for up to 97% of their total emissions footprint, with meat and dairy contributing nearly half. Despite this, retailers have yet to set firm targets or transparent plans to reduce these emissions.

One of the most effective ways for retailers to tackle methane emissions is by accelerating the shift toward plant-based foods – including wholefood and vegetable proteins, as well as meat and dairy substitutes. Research shows that a 50% shift to plant proteins by just six leading food retailers could save emissions equivalent to removing 25 million cars from EU roads. WWF goes further in recommending a 75% shift to plant-based foods versus meat by weight.

Increasing the consumption of plant and alternative proteins is not just a climate solution; it is a nutritional imperative. Investing in plant-based options results in eleven times more greenhouse gas reductions compared with zero-emission cars, yet funding for these solutions lags far behind. Research reveals that a significant reduction in red meat consumption in the UK could save the NHS over £2 billion annually.

There is a clear opportunity for supermarkets to grow the proportion of their plant-based products, supporting consumers in the shift to more sustainable diets.

Research shows demand for alternative proteins is strong across Europe and the US, with 87% of consumers in the US, UK, Netherlands and Germany committed to becoming non-meat eaters, flexitarians or ‘conscious’ meat eaters. By matching the price of their own-brand plant-based products with animal-based counterparts, retailers can make sustainable choices the default for consumers.

Honesty is the best policy

Transparency is the foundation of accountability, yet none of the top 20 global retailers publicly report their methane emissions. This lack of data undermines the credibility of their climate commitments and leaves stakeholders in the dark about the true scale of the problem.

Retailers must begin by setting methane-specific reduction targets, with a goal of cutting emissions by at least 30% by 2030. They should also adopt transparent reporting practices across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, with their substantial methane emissions reported separately, to ensure accountability for all emissions associated with their operations.

Given that meat and dairy make up a significant portion of most supermarkets’ emissions footprint, a commitment to transparent reporting also demands that retailers acknowledge the role of meat and dairy production in driving methane increases and articulate clear plans to reduce their reliance on these high-emission products. Setting plant-based ratio targets is an opportunity for retailers to hold themselves accountable.

Our call to retailers

The retail sector has the tools, influence and responsibility to lead the transition to a sustainable food system. By addressing methane emissions, retailers can not only align with their own sustainability commitments but also position themselves as industry leaders in the fight against climate change and nature loss.

The solutions are clear: address the overproduction and consumption of meat and dairy, invest in plant-based alternatives, and commit to transparent reporting. As the impacts of the climate crisis grow worse, retailers can no longer afford to ignore their role in driving methane emissions. The time to act is now – for the climate, for nature and for future generations.

The aisle to a sustainable future is clear. It’s time for retailers to walk down it.