Sustainability

Roughly one-third of the world’s food is never eaten. Food waste generates about 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In Ireland, on average, the food we waste costs the average Irish household about €700 per year.

Take action to cut your food waste

By choosing to cut your food waste in half, you could save 37 kg of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Together, if all SuperValu customers took this action, we could save 37,400 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, that’s equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the roads every year.

TOP TIPS 

Don’t waste leftovers: link to Recipe finder https://supervalu.ie/recipes/search?keywords

Plan ahead: meal planners & shopping lists: www.stopfoodwaste.ie/resource/shopping.

Store food better: www.stopfoodwaste.ie/resource/storage.

Freeze extras to use another time: www.stopfoodwaste.ie/shopping-and-storage/eat-it-or-freeze-it-and-use-your-freezer-treasure
Check out our social media for lots of tips - Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

SuperValu is committed to sending no recoverable waste to landfill. We’re supporting Ireland’s targets by committing to reducing food waste in our operations by 50% by 2030 in line with SDG 12.3. This means aiming for a 30% reduction in food waste in our operations by 2025.

Take local action.

SuperValu have worked with Irish sustainability consultancy, Sustineo to calculate the estimated emissions impacts for some local actions. We have provided calculations for individual greenhouse gas emissions savings versus what might be achieved with collective action by SuperValu customers.

Take action by Recycling packaging correctly

By choosing to recycle correctly and improve your recycling rate by even 10%, and divert waste from incineration and landfill, you could save 13 kg of CO2 emissions every year. Together, if all SuperValu customers took this action, we could save 13,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, that's equivalent to removing 9,300 cars from the road every year.

TOP TIPS
Know what goes into each bin. Items in your recycling bin need to be clean, dry and loose. 

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

We aim to support circular economy initiatives in Ireland through recycling infrastructure and packaging improvements. We will install Reverse Vending Machines in our stores by January 2024. 

Recycle / sustainability symbols will be more prevalent on our Own Brand packaging, making it easier for our shoppers to identify sustainable packaging options, as well as making it easier for shoppers to dispose of packaging correctly.

Take local action.

SuperValu have worked with Irish sustainability consultancy, Sustineo to calculate the estimated emissions impacts for some local actions. We have provided calculations for individual greenhouse gas emissions savings versus what might be achieved with collective action by SuperValu customers.

Using a reusable coffee cup can help reduce single-use cup waste.

Take action by using your reusable cup

Together, if everyone used their reusable cup, we could save 215 tonnes of greenhouse emissions every year.

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

We offer a 20-cent discount in participating SuperValu stores when you bring your own reusable cup.
Our Frank and Honest cups and lids are 100% compostable. The cups are manufactured in Ireland by Cup Print in Co. Clare. The material in the cup is manufactured using an annually renewable source of plant based liner. The outer wall of the cups is made of recycled paper. So if you do forget your reusable cup, don’t forget when you’re finished your Frank and Honest coffee to put your cup and lid in the food waste bin.

Take local action.

SuperValu have worked with Irish sustainability consultancy, Sustineo to calculate the estimated emissions impacts for some local actions. We have provided calculations for individual greenhouse gas emissions savings versus what might be achieved with collective action by SuperValu customers.

Possibly the best reason to get involved in the grow it yourself movement is to get in touch with nature, better understand seasonal foods and growing some fruit and vegetables at home may help reduce food miles and encourage seasonal eating habits.

Take action by growing some of your own fruit & veg at home

By choosing to grow your own fruit & veg at home, you could save 100 kg of CO2 emissions every year. Together, if even 10,000 SuperValu customers took this action, we could save 1000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, that’s equivalent to powering 700 homes in a year

TOP TIPS

Start with low-maintenance crops like Onions, lettuce, shallots, carrots and spinach*Water vegetables regularly during dry weather*Check for pests and diseases; try to catch any outbreaks early

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

At the beginning of 2023, SuperValu launched a new three-year partnership with GIY Ireland called SuperValu Let’s GROW, to help 50,000 children from 1,600 schools and their families learn where food comes from, and grow up in a world where everyone can enjoy healthy home-grown food. SuperValu has teamed up with GIY to help children and their families learn where food comes from, and grow up in a world where everyone can enjoy healthy home-grown food.

Take local action.

SuperValu have worked with Irish sustainability consultancy, Sustineo to calculate the estimated emissions impacts for some local actions. We have provided calculations for individual greenhouse gas emissions savings versus what might be achieved with collective action by SuperValu customers.

Supporting local producers can contribute to local economic and community benefits and may reduce transport distances for some products. At SuperValu we are passionately committed to supporting local & Irish communities.

Take action by supporting local & Irish

By choosing to support local & Irish, for every €1 spent on Irish goods, €5 comes back to the Irish economy. Together, if we all spend an additional €1 on Irish goods, €5m comes back into the Irish economy every year

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

We support over 1,800 Irish suppliers across our network. SuperValu’s Food Academy programme, now in it's 10th year, is the longest running food producer programme in Ireland, giving start-up food and drink producers an opportunity to get their products on SuperValu shelves 52 weeks of the year. 100% of SuperValu’s branded meat, including beef, lamb, pork, bacon, chicken & eggs is Bord Bia approved and born, bred, and reared in Ireland. Milk for SuperValu’s own brand range is 100% Irish, sourced from creameries throughout the Republic of Ireland. We are committed to growing the volume of locally sourced products across the store by 2025 and supporting the development of local suppliers.

Take local action.

Being part of your local TidyTowns group is a great way to get involved in community life. What makes SuperValu TidyTowns special is that it truly shows the power of community and how collective small actions can make a big difference toward helping our communities improve local biodiversity, reduce litter and support greener public spaces.

Being a volunteer with TidyTowns allows individuals to practice their passion for the good of their community, whether that passion concerns the built environment, landscaping, sustainable living, or local wildlife.

Take action by giving 1 hour per week to your local TidyTowns group
Together, we could give 1 million hours to our local TidyTowns groups every week

TOP TIPS

Pick up 3 pieces of litter on your walk.

Stop or reduce your use of Pesticides.

Plant Native Wildflowers or Pollinator Friendly flowers and seeds.

Don't mow in May to help Ireland's bees.

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

SuperValu is working with TidyTowns to help diverse, local communities come together, to take real local action on biodiversity. 
SuperValu TidyTowns is one of Ireland’s longest-running community initiatives focused on local environmental improvement. Organised by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition inspires almost 30,000 passionate volunteers across a record number 924 committees who give over 3 million hours of their time back to their community every year.

Take local action.

SuperValu is helping local GAA communities, across Ireland, to take real local action on inclusivity. Because everyone wants a more inclusive world.

Take action by being more inclusive in your local GAA clubs and community

Together, we can help increase participation in GAA sports among people from diverse backgrounds by 30% by 2025.
Choose to run an Inclusion Day in your local GAA club.

HERE’S THE REAL ACTION WE’RE TAKING

In 2021, SuperValu, together with the GAA, announced our commitment to increase participation in GAA sports among people from diverse backgrounds by 30% by 2025. As part of our Community Includes Everyone campaign, SuperValu commissioned research to assess the progress of and attitudes towards diversity and inclusion in Gaelic Games communities. 63% of people believe that if the local GAA club is more diverse and inclusive, it will also improve diversity and inclusivity within communities.

GAA clubs play an important role in building diverse communities with 74% of people in Ireland stated that they can bring their whole self to their club regardless of background, while 71% agree that their club welcomes players from diverse communities.

The survey also indicates that the diversity of Ireland continues to grow, with 26% of the population sample from diverse backgrounds, up 4% from 2021. It also suggests that the number of people from diverse communities within the GAA is growing; 15% of those who stem from a diverse ethnicity, sexuality or ability are members of GAA clubs; up from 12% in 2021.

Take local action.