Primary Data for Albert Heijn

CASE STUDY: High-quality Data for an Accurate Environmental Footprint Strategy within Albert Heijn Supply-Chain

Albert Heijn (AH), the largest retailer in the Netherlands, reached out to our team to improve the quality of the data used for environmental footprinting calculations within their supply-chain. 

AH wants to improve its food sourcing and production, through a specific program: Better Food. To this end, the retailer has been creating partnerships with its suppliers in multiple segments to improve food production. 

The Challenge

For a more accurate calculation of their environmental footprint and to better account for progress within their supply-chain, AH needed better quality data and especially, to collect primary data.

Collecting high-quality data is crucial for accurate assessments. In the food value chain, farm data are the most relevant. In most cases, farm activities make the highest contribution to the total footprint of a food product.

However, data collection at farm level is challenging due to the involvement of numerous stakeholders on a global scale. This complexity makes it quite a daunting task to collect such information, with:

• Hundreds of farmers to engage in this process of data collection
• Multiple data points, which bring some burden to report them
• Challenges to ensure the quality of data and consistency in the methodology

Primary GHG emissions data allows for tracking emission reductions over time and incentivizing actions.

The Methodology

Mérieux NutriSciences along with AH developed an online tool to gather data at farm level, providing an easy method for collecting information within the supply chain. The tool was used to collect primary data within the fruit and vegetable production line, across 600+ producers globally. 

The data collected went through a validation process to check for quality by our team. These data led to the construction of an LCI (Life Cycle Inventory) dataset. We used one of our specialized modules (Crop Module). 

What sets this approach apart is the opportunity to accomplish large-scale data collection with a limited reporting burden. This is achieved by focusing on the most relevant data points, which can be used for footprint calculations.

These LCI data are combined with background LCA data from Agri-footprint database and EcoInvent to create a complete inventory of the product life cycle. Our in-house LCA calculator computed several environmental impacts in line withEU footprinting guidance to provide AH with a clear contribution analysis of their environmental footprint. 

Results & Benefits for Albert Heijn

The collection of high-quality data across the supply-chain of AH and the implementation of an online tool has multiple benefits:

• An automated and scaled data collection
• An increased engagement within the supply-chain, with producers directly involved in data input
• A more impactful strategy to reduce emissions, thanks to primary, evidence-based insights

The analysis of the main footprint contributors within AH supply-chain will allow:

• The identification of hotspots in the supply-chain
• Planning sustainability and reduction strategies
• A better monitoring toward climate ambition

Based on the insights of the footprint calculations, Albert Heijn can set up emission reduction programs, improve its supply chain, and contribute to a more sustainable world.

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