Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc. 2024 Sustainable Business Report
Prioritizing sustainability is a critical element of our ambition to be the best retailer in Canada. We’ve taken bold actions,
including setting science-based climate targets, eliminating single-use plastic checkout bags, collaborating with supplier partners to address social and environmental risks in our supply chain, deepening our engagement with Indigenous peoples and continuing to invest in our teams and communities. Our updated sustainability strategy builds on this momentum so we can continue to deliver ethical and sustainable products that are good for people, good for the planet and good for fostering strong business performance.
Message from the CEO
and SVP Legal and Sustainability
“We are committed to delivering the highest quality, most consistent offering, while always seeking ways to deliver value, now and in the future, because we believe Canadians deserve the best. In the 21st century, being the best means making a real commitment to sustainability.”
Sustainability Strategy, Priorities & Pillars
Sustainability at Sobeys
Vision
Empower all to live sustainably in thriving communities
Pillars
- People
- Planet
- Products
Priorities
- Climate Action
- Community Investment
- DE&I
- Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
- Food Waste
- Indigenous Relationships
- Plastics & Packaging
- Vitality
Our updated sustainability strategy builds on momentum, accelerates action and amplifies positive impacts for People and Planet through sustainable and ethical Products.
Empire is a national retailer with deep local roots; strong customer, supplier partner and teammate relationships across Canada; and supply chains that extend around the world and, as such, we have the scale and commitment to empower people to live sustainably in thriving communities.
Our sustainability priorities are to keep driving progress in:
Climate Action
Decarbonizing and transitioning our business and supply chain to thrive in a low-carbon economy through our Climate Action Plan
Plastics & Packaging
Enabling our customers to buy, shop and live free of plastic waste
Food Waste
Reducing food waste in our operations to feed Canadians, not landfills
Ethical & Sustainable Sourcing
Embedding responsible business practices in sourcing decisions, providing confidence that the products we sell are good for people and the planet
Vitality
Supporting our customers to make easy, practical choices that are healthy for themselves, their communities and the planet
People
We’re focused on growing and empowering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce to enable our customers and communities to thrive.
Planet
We’re reducing our impacts and taking action on climate change to do OurPartTM to protect our planet for future generations.
Products
We’re doing OurPartR by delivering sustainable and ethical product choices for our customers.
Fiscal 2024 Sustainable Business Report Highlights
Planet
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re reducing our impacts and taking action on climate change to do OurPartR to protect our planet for future generations.
Our goal is that 64% of suppliers set science-based targets on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of calendar year 2027. We are over halfway to our target.
Completed the removal of the five banned single-use plastic items according to Canada’s Single-use Plastics Prohibition: stir sticks, straws, checkout bags, cutlery, select foodservice ware
~30M
lbs of surplus food donated, gaining recognition from Second Harvest as Canada’s Top Food Rescue Partner for the second consecutive year
27%
reduction in Scope 1 and 2 targets compared to 2019 baseline – ahead of near-term target trajectory
27%
reduction in Scope 1 and 2 targets compared to 2019 baseline – ahead of near-term target trajectory
Products
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re doing OurPartR by delivering sustainable and ethical product choices for our customers.
96% of Own Brands seafood is sustainably sourced
86% of palm oil in products is certified sustainable
380+
women entrepreneurs supported in fiscal 2024 (across Canada, excluding Quebec)
Released our first Fighting Forced Labour and Child Labour report
People
PILLAR MESSAGE: We’re focused on growing and empowering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce to enable our customers and communities to thrive.
91%
of directors and above set DE&I performance and accountability goals.
89%
of people managers and above facilitated Speak Freely discussions with teams to create safe spaces, listen actively, foster healthy debate and build on contributions
~$23M
donated to support healthy bodies and minds in our communities (~$7 million in corporate donations and ~$16 million raised)
Empire is a proudly Canadian company, with more than 115 years of experience in the food retail business.
As a family nurturing families, we want to ensure Canadians are taken care of today, tomorrow and in the future. By doing OurPartR for the environment, we hope to inspire our customers to do their part. Every step we take together, big or small, can make a difference.
