In less than three years, General Mills has already met its goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations.
That was the easy part.
Achieving a 30% reduction in climate-warming emissions across the company’s entire supply chain by 2030 may well require the beginnings of an agricultural revolution.
“We’ve reduced emissions within our four walls,” Mark McCullough, global impact director for General Mills, said. “Where we’re focusing now are the key climate levers where we have the greatest potential impact: regenerative agriculture, dairy, deforestation, renewable electricity and transportation.”
The Golden Valley-based food company released its annual global responsibility report Tuesday along with a new climate plan meant to speed progress toward both its 2030 target and the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
By using more renewable energy at its factories and making other changes, General Mills has cut internal emissions nearly in half from a 2020 baseline.
But about 95% of the company’s emissions are considered indirect, or Scope 3. Those emissions — 19.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent gases in fiscal 2022 — come from farms, dairies and other suppliers that are outside the company’s direct control.
Small gains, big challenges for General Mills
Almost all of General Mills’ tracked greenhouse gas emissions are “Scope 3” or those outside the organization’s direct control, such as agricultural emissions.
