SIG ignites sustainability mission with industry-leading climate change targets
10 Jan 2020 --- Aseptic systems and solutions provider SIG has announced a new climate target to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 60 percent by 2030 from the 2016 baseline. The target is one of the first in the packaging industry to be approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for meeting the latest climate science to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. SIG is also committed to reducing value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per liter packed by 2030, also from the 2016 baseline.
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company's GHG emissions into three scopes. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.
Paris inspired
The ambitious new target places SIG among an elite group of companies leading efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the global Paris Agreement.
SIG’s new target compresses the timeline to achieve a 60 percent absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by a full 10 years compared with its previous target, which was already approved by the SBTi as in line with keeping global warming well below 2°C.
Credit: SIG
Around 300 companies have targets approved by the SBTi. Fewer than 100 are currently approved as being in line with the 1.5°C goal.
A strong focus on renewable energy underpins the company’s efforts to achieve this target. SIG has already switched to 100 percent renewable electricity for global production and is exploring opportunities to expand on-site renewables, such as its award-winning rooftop solar array in Thailand.
Dr. Christian Bauer, Corporate Responsibility expert at SIG, tells PackagingInsights that the supplier will be focusing on changing its energy supply system, for example, with combined heat and power plants, and by using solar energy to drive energy efficiency programs further.
“We will also work to get climate effective eco-innovations mainstream, such as packaging solutions linked completely to renewable materials like the SIGNATURE PACK, or with responsibly sourced aluminum foil barriers (ASI).”
SIG and beyond
SIG is not only committed to cutting emissions from its own operations. The company is also committed to reducing value chain greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per liter packed by 2030 (from the 2016 baseline). This target includes Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions from Purchased Goods and Services, Use of Sold Products and End of Life Treatment.
To meet the 25 percent target, SIG will continue to optimize its packaging design, prioritizing responsibly-sourced materials, lightweighting and the use of renewable and recycled content, Bauer notes.
SIG's new Suzhou production plant, its second in China.
SIG indicates that its aseptic beverage cartons have a 28 percent to 70 percent lower carbon footprint than alternative packaging, such as plastic and glass bottles, pouches and cans, according to independent life-cycle assessments. The cartons are made mainly from renewable materials from sustainably-managed forests that absorb carbon as they grow. The cartons also preserve food without the need for refrigeration.
The aseptic specialist will also work to achieve utility and energy demand reductions in its filling machines and continue to support recycling and collection campaigns.
“It’s clear the world urgently needs to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to tackle the harmful effects of climate change,” comments Ian Wood, Chief Supply Chain Officer at SIG. “SIG’s stretching new target will accelerate climate action to dramatically cut our emissions and enhance our contribution to a lower-carbon food supply system.”
The focus on cutting climate impact is part of SIG’s ambition to go Way Beyond Good by partnering to create a net positive food supply system that will nourish a growing global population while putting “more into society and the environment than it takes out.”
By Joshua Poole
