“Code red for humanity”: Guala Closures Group sets GHG reduction targets

23 Jan 2023 --- Guala Closures Group, manufacturer of aluminum and specialty closures, announces that its 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), meeting its 1.5-degrees celsius goal.

“Science-based targets provide a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce GHG emissions, helping to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and future-proofing business growth,” says SBTi. 

The Group has set marks to reduce absolute scope one and two GHG emissions by 44% by 2030, using 2020 as its base year. SBTi is focused on accelerating worldwide action to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. 

“The latest climate science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – described by the UN as ‘code red for humanity’ – shows it is still possible to limit global temperature rise to 1.5-degrees celsius, but we are dangerously close to that threshold. There is no time to waste in our efforts to make deep emission cuts,” says Paolo Lavazza, quality and sustainability director at Guala Closures Group.

Guala Closures Group receives validation on GHG reduction targets. Meeting GHG goals 
Guala Closures Group is now committing to reduce scope three GHG emissions from purchased goods, services and fuel- and energy-related activities, by 25% per million manufactured closures, within the same timeframe.

The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. The goals are also one of the “We Mean Business Coalition” commitments – a group of seven nonprofit organizations to business and policy action to halve global emissions by 2030 in line with a 1.5-degrees celsius pathway.

“To have our near-term target validated gives us, as well as our customers and suppliers, clear evidence we are on the right track,” continues Lavazza. 

The Group already reduced its GHG emissions in 2021 on scope one and two intensities by 40% from the 2016 base year.

SBTi promotes science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets. More than 4,400 international companies worldwide have joined SBTi, with more than 2,100 companies having their targets approved.

“The SBTi is a highly prestigious organization that intends to ensure the claims made by stakeholders about these targets are fully validated by scientific evidence. This gives everyone confidence in the process,” Lavazza explains. Companies are called to respond to rising temperatures created by global material use. 

Calling for reductions
Last week, a report co-written by impact organization Circle Economy and a services company called for a 30% reduction in material extraction worldwide to limit global warming to 2 degrees celsius.

Previously, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) and Eunomia released a report that estimates a 67% chance of global warming staying within 1.5-degrees celsius of pre-industrial levels if cumulative GHG emissions remain below 400 gross tonnage CO2 e, to which Lavazza refers. 

Part of the report demonstrates that current plans for net zero by 2050 in the materials sector are unlikely to be enough to limit warming to 1.5-degrees celsius. Likely trajectories show that the result could be as high as 2 degrees celsius. 

Current production and consumption trajectories indicate global material use is predicted to double from 2015 to 2060. Therefore, mitigating the GHG emissions from these sectors is likely to present a significant challenge.

Implementing measures such as GHG goal reduction targets is vital to offset the predicted numbers by ZWE. The Guala Closures Group is one of many companies that need to act appropriately to meet its goals to have a substantial impact. 

Edited by Sabine Waldeck

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