Supermarket Methane Transparency Lags in Assessment
Twenty major grocery chains still lack targets for reducing supply chain methane emissions.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Organic Food
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Should large supermarkets be required to report and reduce methane emissions in their supply chains?
Twenty major supermarket chains currently lack reported methane reduction targets for their supply chains, according to a recent assessment. While some retailers are showing progress, many still do not recognize methane emissions as a formal issue.
Why it matters
Retailers hold significant power to influence food production practices, and setting emissions targets is a critical step in managing climate risk. Transparent reporting is becoming essential as food companies face increasing regulatory and investor scrutiny.
A Methane Action Tracker assessment evaluated 20 supermarket giants, revealing that Dairy Methane Action Alliance members averaged a 61.4% score compared to 22.3% for non-members. The exact timeline for how these laggard retailers will align with upcoming EU sustainability standards remains unknown.
The players
Tesco
A multinational retailer that currently shares the highest tracker score of 43.5% for its methane reduction reporting.
Lidl
An international grocery chain that tied for the top tracker score of 43.5% among assessed supermarkets.
Nestlé
A global food and beverage company that dropped in tracker rankings following its exit from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.
Bel Group
A French food company specializing in dairy products that achieved an 80% score on the Methane Action Tracker.
The details
The Methane Action Tracker evaluates how companies measure and mitigate methane, a potent greenhouse gas often generated in dairy and livestock supply chains. Retailers can exert leverage by requiring suppliers to adopt better manure management and feed additives that lower methane output. While dairy and coffee producers often outperform retailers in these metrics, seven supermarket groups have yet to acknowledge methane as a climate priority.
Timeline
• October 2025: Nestlé left the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.
• May 2026: The baseline period for tracking supermarket score increases.
• August 2026: The end point for measuring supermarket score improvements.
• 2027: Member states must enact laws to comply with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
Health Landscape
The push for methane transparency aligns with the evolving requirements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. This shift signals a broader move away from voluntary sustainability pledges toward mandatory disclosures for major food entities.
For shoppers, these findings highlight which retailers are prioritizing sustainable supply chains versus those lagging in climate accountability. You may consider reviewing the sustainability disclosures of your preferred grocery stores to make more informed purchasing decisions.
The takeaway
While some supermarkets are improving their transparency, many still lack clear plans to address supply chain methane. Consumers can track these shifts by looking for publicly available corporate sustainability reports that specifically disclose climate-related emissions data.
Further reading
Learn more about the environmental standards behind our food in the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Grocer.
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Should large supermarkets be required to report and reduce methane emissions in their supply chains?
