Sainsbury's shopper in row over 'outdated' targets

Shirley resident Rod Lewis says he is holding Sainsbury's to account over some outdated environmental and social targets displayed on the wall of its Portswood branch.

The IT consultant has repeatedly asked customer service staff to update the signs but 18 months on, his requests have led to no action.

One sign on the groundfloor of the Portswood Road store reads: 'By 2020, our own packaging will have been reduced by half compared to 2005'.

A second one reads: 'By 2020, we'll have donated over £400 million to charitable causes in a decade'.

The 46-year-old believes the supermarket should be transparent and reveal if the targets have actually been met.

The targets written on the branch's wall (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “If you’re going out that on the wall on the side of your store, then you need to own up to give an update, you can’t just dismiss it because of the pandemic.

“I want to see the integrity. I’m completely in the dark as to whether they completed these targets or not.”

Rod says he feels even more determined to get to the bottom of this after being stopped from scanning his own plastic bag while shopping in the Shirley branch back in March. 

Staff at the self-checkout told him they are now scanning bags on behalf of customers due to a series of thefts.

He said: “I was annoyed because it felt like there was no trust, I’ve shopped at Salisbury’s for 30 years. That frustrated me.

"It just annoyed me that they don't trust me to scan a carrier bag, bearing in mind I had been asking for them to update the signage in the Portswood store.

"The information is out of date and inaccurate."

Rod has lodged complaints with the corporate team but has not heard back.

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said the signs will be updated when the store is next refurbished. They did not specify when this will be.

Asked if the 2020 targets have been met, the company did not respond.

A statement on its website said: "We aim to plant 1.5 million native trees by 2025, with the potential to mitigate 375,000 tonnes of CO2. 100 per cent of palm oil sourced for our own brand products is sustainably sourced, and by 2025, we will ensure that 100 per cent of high-risk origin soy meal is zero deforestation and certified as sustainable."

The supermarket said it aims to be net zero by 2035.