DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:577 kt CO2e/year (Scope 1 & 2)
Scope 1 Emissions:236 kt CO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:341 kt CO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:3348 kt CO2e/year
Total Energy Consumption:2.59 Million gigajoules/year
Water Consumption:2190 million litres/year
Waste Generated:67,980 tonnes/year
Carbon Intensity:63 tonnes CO2e per US$m net sales (Scope 1 & 2)
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Waste
- Water
- Plastic
- Sustainable Products
- Community Engagement and Support
- Human Capital
- Health, Safety and Wellbeing
- Social Compliance
- Product Safety and Quality
- Ethics and Anti-corruption
- Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
- Tax Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 19% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions vs 2021 baseline
- 54% waste diversion rate in 2023, up from 51% in 2022
- 24% of Own Brand products in selected categories now have sustainability certifications, more than doubling the number from 2022
- Plastic bags and plastic wrap usage down 38% (compared with 2022)
- 57% of own brand products with plastic packaging are recyclable
Social Achievements
- More than 1,129 volunteering hours were contributed in Hong Kong
- US$3.7m donated to communities across the markets in which we operate
- Launched a Mental Health Awareness programme including webinars, self-evaluation tools, and expanded benefits
Governance Achievements
- 94% of factories in high-risk countries supplying own brand products have been audited against Amfori or equivalent standards
- 81% of own brand product factories were third-party audited for a globally recognised food safety certification
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net zero emissions by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
- 50% absolute Scope 1 and 2 emission reduction by 2030
- 25% Scope 3 emission reduction across targeted categories by 2030
- Fully electrify fleet in own operation by 2030
- Increase OB plastic packaging that is recyclable by 50% by 2030
Short-term Goals:
- Accelerate decarbonisation across operations by 2025 (refrigerants, fleet electrification pilot, waste diversion)
Environmental Challenges
- Changes in customer behaviours following the pandemic
- Higher interest rates, inflationary pressures and a broader economic slowdown on the Chinese mainland
- Intense competition and weakening consumer sentiment caused by rising cost of living pressures
- Reduced home renovation and furniture demand due to a softening in property market sentiment
- Increased levels of outbound travel impacting shopping behaviour
- High interest rates, inflationary and wage pressures and uncertainty as to the impact these factors will have on consumer sentiment
- Physical risks from severe weather conditions (typhoons, flooding, extreme heat)
- Transition risks from regulatory compliance, low-carbon technologies, carbon pricing, energy prices, and consumer preference changes
- Reputational risks from investor and consumer expectations regarding climate change
Mitigation Strategies
- Appointment of Scott Price as Group Chief Executive to lead business transformation
- Introduction of a new strategic framework: Customer First, People Led, Shareholder Driven
- Alignment of organisation structure to a format structure across Food, Health and Beauty, Convenience and Home Furnishings
- New go-to-market digital strategy
- Development of business continuity plans for all locations
- Review of overflow and draining systems in areas prone to flooding
- Implementation of security of supply initiatives and resilient sourcing practices
- Energy and refrigeration efficiency initiatives
- Maintaining and enforcing safety-at-work procedures for heat-related illness
- Compliance programme to ensure adherence to evolving regulations
- Use of low global warming potential refrigerants
- Investment in energy efficiency equipment
- Adoption of water loop refrigeration systems
- Planning of Scope 3 GHG emission plan
- Implementation of measures to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions
- Adjustment of product offerings to align with sustainability and climate-friendly demands
- Stakeholder engagement
- Investment in climate initiatives (US$10-20 million annually)
- Transition to electric trucks
- Increase waste diversion rate
- Source low carbon OB products from suppliers
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 94% of factories in high-risk countries supplying own brand products audited against Amfori or equivalent standards
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Amfori BSCI membership
- Ethical Sourcing Programme
- Supplier pre-qualification onboarding process
- GFSI certification for food products
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Disruption of services and business operations caused by severe weather conditions
- Store closures, power outages, and transportation disruptions
- Damage to equipment, facilities, and properties due to floodwaters
- Decrease in business demand
- Supply chain disruptions
- Higher energy costs and consumption for cooling
- Faster spoilage of perishable items
Transition Risks
- Regulatory compliance
- Increased operational costs and inefficiencies associated with outdated and carbon-intensive technologies
- Carbon pricing
- Rising energy prices
- Consumer preference change
Opportunities
- Energy and refrigeration efficiency initiatives
- Renewable energy sources
- Sustainable products
- Electrification of fleet
- Sustainable Finance opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD, UNGC, UN SDGs
Certifications: SBTi validated targets
Third-party Assurance: PricewaterhouseCoopers (limited assurance)
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Sustainable Seafood (MSC certified)
- Sustainable Cocoa (Rainforest Alliance certified)
- Sustainable Coffee Beans (Rainforest Alliance certified)
- FSC certified paper products
Awards & Recognition
- Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence – Super Gold Award
- CLP Smart Energy Award 2023
- TVB ESG Award