Sustainability

Tractor Supply hits green target, with years to spare

Tractor Supply Company has highlighted recent progress on its commitment to advancing its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.

The Brentwood, Tenn.-based farm and ranch retailer reported that it has reduced carbon emissions from its facilities by 29% (compared to 2015 baseline). This surpasses the company’s original target of 25% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions on a per square foot intensity basis by 2025, established in December 2018, five years ahead of plan.

“At Tractor Supply, we are extremely pleased to announce we have exceeded our carbon emission reduction goal five years ahead of schedule,” said Ben Parrish, EVP, general counsel and corporate secretary of Tractor Supply. Parrish also leads the company’s ESG strategy and Stewardship Program.

“Further, our TCFD report is a continuation of years of work to enhance the company’s environmental sustainability efforts and transparency around our environmental impacts,” Parrish said. “Driven by our commitment to the company’s mission and values, we continue to execute on our purpose-driven ESG efforts by evaluating and implementing policies, programs and projects that benefit all of our key stakeholders.”

Tractor Supply said that it is also committed to increasing its level of renewable energy purchased for electric consumption. The company has set a goal to substitute existing electric consumption with verifiable, renewable electric power, setting the base year at 2019 with the goal to achieve this by 2022. The target goal is to achieve a baseline of renewable energy in contracted volumes of 80 million kWh.

The retailer is also partnering with various utility companies in the United States to purchase solar energy for select store locations and to participate in community solar programs. Selected stores served by Pacific Gas & Electric are now receiving 100% solar energy, with an annual load of over 1.8 million kWh. This equates to a reduction of 1,302 metric tons of CO2 or the amount of carbon sequestered by 1,700 acres of US forest.

Tractor Supply operates more than 1,900 stores in 49 states along with 183 Petsense stores in 25 states.

IKEA recharges its battery mix

IKEA’s global headquarters in Almhult, Sweden reported that all non-rechargeable alkaline batteries will be removed from stores by October 2021.

The furnishings retailer said that its goal is to inspire consumers who frequently use batteries to make the switch to rechargeable ones, enabling them to both save money and reduce waste at home.

According to IKEA, several current comparative life cycle assessment studies show that the environmental impact of alkaline batteries is higher compared to rechargeable nickel metal hydride batteries (NiMH) when used in common household devices that have a high energy consumption and are therefore charged on a regular basis — such as toys, flashlights, portable speakers or cameras.

After 10 charges of a rechargeable NiHM battery, such as the LADDA range sold in IKEA stores, greenhouse gas emissions are lower compared to using alkaline batteries to obtain the same amount of energy. After about 50 charges, the overall environmental impact of NiMH batteries is equal to or even less than the impact of alkaline batteries, the company said.

“Consumers who need to frequently use batteries can benefit by replacing alkaline with rechargeable batteries,” said Emelie Knoester, business area manager at IKEA Range and Supply. “There are substantial savings to be made over time — on the environment as well as their wallets.”

Between September 2018 and August 2019, IKEA globally sold about 300 million alkaline batteries.

IKEA’s rechargeable LADDA.