SMURFIT Kappa has announced it has had its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as consistent with the levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) which defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and assesses companies’ targets.
Smurfit Kappa said SBTi approval is the latest validation of the company’s leadership in sustainability in the paper-based packaging sector. In 2020 the business announced its target of at least net zero fossil emissions by 2050 and introduced new targets under its Better Planet 2050 initiative.
Tony Smurfit, group CEO, said, “The SBTi validation builds on our well-established sustainability credentials and is an extremely positive development for Smurfit Kappa and all our stakeholders. The world must move to circular business activities with low carbon emissions. SBTi is further evidence of our ability to deliver on this goal, and for our customers, through our increasingly sustainable operating footprint and packaging solutions.”
Garrett Quinn, chief sustainability officer at Smurfit Kappa, added, “In Smurfit Kappa we focus on long-term ambition coupled with action and delivery today. The strength of our continued delivery across our sustainability metrics has been further underlined by SBTi’s approval.
“Since starting our corporate sustainability reporting journey over 15 years ago, we have been collaborating with like-minded organisations to tackle critical issues such as climate change, waste reduction and water scarcity. SBTi approval provides us with a solid foundation to build towards our Better Planet 2050 targets and plays an increasingly important part in the delivery of our customers’ sustainability goals.”
