Monday 12 October 2020

Sainsbury’s partners with Imperial College on research to meet net zero emissions targets

Sainsbury's has partnered with Imperial College to research ways to meet its net zero emissions targets.

The partnership will see energy and engineering experts from the college working with the supermarket chain on technologies that will enable it to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by minimising the use of natural gas, diesel, electricity and water.

The research will focus on measures to decarbonise the firm's buildings and transport operations.

These measures include a project which will utilise heat recovery technologies to end the use of natural gas in its shops.

Imperial College will also help Sainsbury’s reduce carbon dioxide emissions in its heavy goods vehicles by offering advice on alternative fuels like hydrogen and biomethane.

David Merefield, Carbon, Utilities and Engineering Manager at Sainsbury’s, said: "Throughout our longstanding partnership, we have demonstrated the importance of working collaboratively with academics, to inspire new thinking and enable us to trial and test the benefits of new innovation."

Professor Nilay Shah, Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, said: "The partnership offers us a fantastic opportunity to understand how our research can be applied in real-world settings and to shape our work so that it helps Sainsbury’s transform its business and makes a tangible contribution to the energy transition the world urgently requires."

Sainsbury's has pledged to reach net zero in its own operations by 2040.