How Leading Food Brands Are Preparing for Climate Disclosures

The food sector faces unique climate challenges, from agricultural emissions and land-use changes to water scarcity and supply chain disruptions. For many companies, Scope 3 emissions — those tied to farms, suppliers, and logistics — account for the vast majority of their carbon footprint.

Transparent climate reporting allows companies to:

1. Identify emissions hotspots

2. Create credible plans for reductions

3. Attract ESG-focused investors

4. Build trust with customers and partners

5. Prepare for emerging regulatory requirements like the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and EU CSRD

Let’s look at how leading food brands are preparing for this new era of transparency — and what you can learn from their approach.

A major milestone in climate reporting is the inclusion of agricultural and land-use emissions, which are traditionally difficult to quantify. Kraft Heinz and JM Smucker have taken a significant step by beginning to disclose these Scope 3 sources, including upstream emissions tied to ingredients like dairy, wheat, and fruit.

These disclosures shed light on the biggest climate impacts in food production and enable more accurate goal-setting and planning. Companies that ignore this data risk falling behind as scrutiny increases.

Start by identifying your highest-emission ingredients and asking key suppliers to share emissions data or use industry benchmarks. Even small steps toward visibility can build a foundation for more robust disclosures.

General Mills is among the few food companies to publish a full transition plan aligned with its climate goals. The plan quantifies how the company will reduce emissions across operations and the supply chain, with measurable milestones and timelines.

Key elements of their strategy include:

1. Expanding regenerative agriculture programs across priority ingredients

2. Cutting energy use and emissions at manufacturing sites

3. Engaging suppliers on climate performance and improvements

Why this matters:

A transparent, quantified transition plan shows stakeholders that climate commitments aren’t just words — they’re backed by action. It also helps internal teams align on priorities and track progress.

What you can do:

Even if your company is earlier in the journey, start drafting a transition roadmap. Focus on achievable short-term actions and build in space to iterate as you collect better data.

As a global food retailer, Ahold Delhaize has taken a broad, forward-looking approach. Its climate transition plan spans owned operations and supplier networks and is designed to support a resilient, low-carbon food system.

What sets them apart:

1. Clear emissions targets by business unit

2. Detailed steps to decarbonize logistics and private-label sourcing

3. Transparency about risks and opportunities across different climate scenarios

Why this matters:

By going beyond operational emissions and considering supply and demand dynamics, Ahold Delhaize sets a powerful example of long-term climate readiness.

What you can do:

Collaborate with key stakeholders — from procurement and logistics to brand and legal — to map out how climate risks could affect your business. Use that understanding to inform your own disclosure strategy.

You don’t need to be a multinational brand to start preparing for climate disclosures. Here’s how food companies of all sizes can get ready:

1. Get familiar with disclosure frameworks like CDP, TCFD, and ISSB — even if reporting isn’t mandatory yet.

2. Map your emissions sources, especially in agriculture, packaging, and transportation.

3. Start simple: Set baseline emissions, choose a few key metrics, and share early findings.

4. Engage suppliers to begin collecting Scope 3 data or using sector averages to fill gaps.

5. Build an internal task force to oversee climate reporting and drive alignment across teams.

To help food and beverage companies build stronger climate strategies, we created the Food & Beverage Playbook — a hands-on resource for turning insights into action.

Inside you’ll find:

1. A roadmap to emissions measurement and disclosure

2. Templates for engaging suppliers

3. Sample transition plan outlines

4. Real-world examples from Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and more