02 December 2025

Press Release

For immediate release

Supermarkets playing with fire on future of food, says WWF

WWF warns that climate change and nature loss are driving an unprecedented threat to food security 
Retailers’ progress in reducing environmental risks is stagnating, threatening future commercial viability without delivering necessary systems-level change. 
Climate change combined with a broken food system is increasing pressure on global supply chains and consumer prices 
WWF calls on board Chairs to recognise environmental risks and UK government to bring due diligence legislation on deforestation into force after 4-year delay
90% of UK grocery market from 10 major retailers provided data for this report.

The UK’s broken food system is causing environmental collapse and creating volatility in supply and price, according to a report by WWF released today.   

Drawing on data from 10 retailers (Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose), 2025’s What's in Store for the Planet report assesses the progress on environmental action of 90% of the UK grocery market and concludes that action on reducing environmental risks is stagnating. 

It warns that without decisive action environmental impacts will escalate, threatening food security and driving food price inflation. Five years from the 2030 target deadlines agreed in 2021, it finds there has yet to be an effort on a scale that will deliver systemic change. 

This comes after senior professionals working in the food industry released a whistleblowing memo in April warning that climate change is a “threat to food security like none we have ever seen”.

Key areas of concern include: 

Deforestation and land conversion: Retailers are set to miss 2025 targets on removing deforestation and conversion, with 2024 data revealing only 1.8% of soy and 3.1% of cocoa being sourced as deforestation and conversion free (DCF) from high-risk areas. Missing these targets will severely hinder their ability to deliver on broader climate targets.  
Climate: Retailers are a long way off on reducing Scope 3 (indirect) emissions, which account for 90% of their emissions. It will not be possible to hit targets without tackling emissions associated with agriculture, diets, food waste and deforestation. Collective action on these areas is the only way to expedite progress. 
Diet: Retailers are not tackling protein diversification, and are still selling twice the target proportion of meat compatible with a healthy and sustainable diet. While research shows that beef and pork will see the greatest price hikes in future.  
Agriculture: There has been limited progress and engagement for improving livestock production standards. Retailers must scale up their sustainable sourcing policies beyond a select few farming groups.

The food system is responsible for 70% of nature loss and around a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and with over 80% of agricultural land used for grazing and feed production for livestock the risk of increasing emissions is high.

As well as destruction of ecosystems and habitats, these emissions deepen the climate crisis which causes more frequent extreme weather such as drought or flooding, which in turn impacts on food production. Meanwhile, intensive methods of production have resulted in degraded soil and water scarcity. The unchecked combination has led to significant risks for food security. 

We are already seeing immense pressure on global supply chains, often resulting in higher prices for UK consumers. As the impacts of climate change increase, retailers are facing an ever more volatile supply chain. This drives up prices as consumers are already facing continued cost-of-living pressures.

The report highlights common shopping basket products that are most at risk of price volatility and shortages due to climate change and nature loss including: 

Bread: Over one year’s supply of bread has been lost in the last decade due to the effects of drought and heavy rainfall on wheat harvests. 
Chocolate: Excessive heat and shifting rainfall patterns caused cocoa prices to surge 136% between 2022-2024. Key cocoa growing regions are set to become unsuitable for production. 
Milk: Climate change-induced heat stress and extreme weather reducing availability of forage can cause milk production losses in dairy cows.
Meat: UK poultry, pork and salmon production relies heavily on soy, a commodity heavily linked to deforestation and destruction of natural habitats in key producing regions.  
Coffee: World coffee prices increased by ~40% in 2024 due to extreme weather. Rising temperatures projected to reduce the area suitable for coffee growing by 50% by 2050.

However, the report also argues that it is not too late for action. 

Retailers are making good progress on Scope 1 and 2 emissions. On average, retailers are 49% of the way towards achieving their near-term Scope 1 and 2 targets, compared to 37% last year. And there has been a 10% increase of DCF sourcing of palm oil since last year, continuing efforts over the last decade by the industry.  

This indicates that collective action taken now can pave the way for a healthy and sustainable future and secure a resilient food system with stable prices for consumers. 

In order to achieve this, WWF is calling on food industry company board members to table this immediate risk to future commercial viability, highlighting the duty that they have to ensure retailers can keep food on shelves in future.  

This means embedding sustainability in short and long-term business decisions, tabling it at every board meeting, reporting on progress, impact, and barriers. 

The report also encourages retailers to follow WWF’s Blueprint for Action to achieve their targets, and put the UK food system on the path to sustainable production and consumption. 

In addition, it notes that many food businesses are also already taking targeted action – such as investing in regenerative agriculture, water efficiency and circular technologies, but that we need to see a dramatic scaling of investment and action from government, industry, and the finance sector to deliver a resilient food system. 

With the target deadline of 2030 approaching, the report warns retailers that what was once a long-term threat has already arrived – and the time to act is now.

Tanya Steele, chief executive at WWF said: 

“The way we currently produce food is contributing to climate change and devastating our natural world. It is only by protecting our environment that we can maintain our ability to grow healthy and affordable food for everyone. By not meeting their commitments supermarkets are playing with fire. 

“The impacts of climate change are being felt in every area assessed in this WWF report. And this raises questions about whether supermarkets will, in the years and decades to come, be able to provide the wide range of produce we currently take for granted and at an affordable price.

"Drought, floods and other severe weather events are already creating food price inflation which every consumer is feeling in their pocket.

"For the good of their customers, and for their own commercial viability, retailers must act now to embed sustainability at every stage of their decision-making. The clock is ticking."

Dr Mike Barrett, chief scientific advisor at WWF said:

“While this report outlines actions the retail sector should take to meet 2030 commitments, the UK Government has a crucial role in helping shift the food system by enabling and incentivising retailers and supply chain actors to collectively reach this goal.

Deforestation is a prime example – retailers have made a coordinated effort to remove it from supply chains, but without regulation it’s very difficult. The Environment Act 2021 provides for a duty of due diligence on importers to ensure produce was not grown on deforested land – when will the government bring it into force?”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

This is the fourth 'What's in Store' report which uses data submitted by supermarkets to assess sector-wide progress towards targets year on year. Data disclosure is key to enabling the identification of risks and opportunities for business; and signalling to government where policy is needed for progress. Data is provided by retailers on a voluntary basis – this year:   
10 major UK food retailers. representing 90% of the grocery market, shared data.
They were Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl GB, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose
Aldi, Co-op and Waitrose increased the proportion of data provided this year, while M&S are still leading the way in data provision.
What’s in Store for the Planet 2025 report is available here.
WWF’s Blueprint for Action, produced in 2021, is available here. This was updated in 2025.