07.09.2020
Climate Transformation Summit
Climate transformation made in 2020: these 20 companies have set themselves clear CO2 reduction targets
The climate transformation will not stand still, even in 2020! We are currently experiencing the opposite. The EU is negotiating a tightening of the climate protection target for 2030, and a study by the Öko-Institut recently showed that it would be technically and economically feasible for all EU countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 levels over the next 10 years. Currently, the EU's climate target is only a 40% reduction. Under the German Council Presidency, the new climate target is now to be adopted by the end of 2020 so that it can be presented to the international community in time for the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in 2021.
Why do we need climate targets?
In 2050, there will be around 9.5 billion people on the planet, in an economy that has grown another 3-4 times larger, with twice as much private mobility and a 300% increase in the transportation of goods. And: this world will be climate-neutral. According to the Science-Based Targets Initiative, 978 companies have already committed to reducing CO2 by 50% over the next 10 years.
Strengthening climate protection targets in the EU is therefore necessary in order to jointly achieve the 2°C target, as agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement, and to shape our future in a humane and environmentally friendly way. According to a study by the Öko-Institut, CO2 emissions from industry and the energy sector in particular, but also from mobility, the building industry and agriculture, should fall more sharply (approx. 15-20%) than previously set.
Companies are preparing for new opportunities and risks
Companies today know that they are not only facing current market changes, but also future opportunities and risks. There is an opportunity today to invest in the future, to position your own company in an environmentally friendly way and at the same time to minimize risks due to rising costs and regulations. Forward-thinking and responsible companies are taking the initiative to reduce their carbon footprint and implement their own climate transformation.
How far along are companies in the EU?
However, the question arises: how do you start and implement your own climate transformation if even the EU is unclear about measures and targets? Some large companies are leading the way - they are focusing on continuous CO2 measurement, long-term reduction targets along the science-based targets (SBTs) and effective climate protection projects in their own supply chain.
SMEs and small companies sometimes lack the capacity to set up their own climate teams or are deterred by concerns about greenwashing. The following examples therefore show companies that have already taken a step. They are committed to the Science-Based Traget initiative or are introducing strong climate measures. Together, the SBT-certified companies - including their supply chains - are responsible for 3.9 billion tons of CO2 and employ 5.8 million people, according to their own statements. This corresponds to around 90% of EU emissions.
Climate transformation continues in 2020! These 20 companies set themselves clear reduction targets this year
These 20 companies are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and setting an example for others in their industry. They are using innovative solutions and ambitious targets to achieve environmentally friendly results.
We do not intend to evaluate the implementation, feasibility or effectiveness of the individual measures here. Rather, we would like to show the first steps in the climate transformation of individual companies as inspiration and offer suggestions for the climate-neutral economy of tomorrow.
Buildings
The Velux Group - plans to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2018. To achieve this, the company is entering into a partnership with the WWF. The Group is drawing up its 2030 sustainability strategy, in which it commits to a science-based emissions reduction target as part of the Science Based Targets Initiative. In addition, the roof window manufacturer's historical CO2 emissions* - 5.6 million tons of CO2 since the company was founded in 1941 - are to be retroactively bound by WWF forest conservation projects. This amount of emissions is roughly equivalent to the annual CO2 footprint of 800,000 European citizens.
Schüco International KG - The supplier of doors, windows and façades is committed to reducing its total emissions by 30% by 2025 compared to 2018. To this end, Schüco International KG plans to increase its use of renewable energy from 84% in 2018 to 89% in 2025.
Production
Adidas - aims to reduce 30% of its CO2 emissions along the entire value chain by 2030 and become climate-neutral by 2050. Adidas also joined the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action in 2018 and signed the Fashion Pact at the G7 summit in 2019.
Bayer - The chemical company wants to become a climate-neutral company by 2030 by switching to 100% electricity from renewable energies and offsetting the remaining emissions in such a way that CO2 is stored in the soil and biodiversity is promoted.
Beiersdorf - Committed to reducing the CO2 emissions of the entire Group in the Consumer and Tesa business units equally by 2025. For energy-related emissions (Scope 1 and 2), an absolute reduction of 30% is to be achieved by 2025. CO2 emissions outside the company (Scope 3), for example from suppliers and service providers, are to be reduced by 10%.
Henkel - Has the vision of becoming a climate-positive company by 2040. Own sites are to reduce their CO2 footprint by 65% by 2025 and by 75% by 2030. Energy efficiency and electricity from renewable energy - 50% by 2020 and 100% by 2030 - are to be the focus here.
Bosch - Offsets its emissions for in-house generation and the purchase of energy used for production and administration from 2020. In the value chain, 15% CO2 is to be reduced by 2030.
Hugo Boss – Das Modehaus verlässt sich auf die wissenschaftlich fundierte Zielen der Science-Based-Targets Initiative. Im ersten Schritt ist eine CO2-Reduktion um 30% bis 2030 für die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette geplant.
Timberland – Der Textilkonzern will bis 2030 seine Schuhe klimaneutral produzieren. Der Fokus liegt dabei auf zwei Bereichen der Produktion: 100% der Produkte sollen ein kreislauffähiges Design aufweisen und 100% der natürlichen Rohstoffe sollen aus regenerativer Landwirtschaft stammen.
Zalando – Stellt seinen Betrieb klimaneutral und bewertet Zuliefer*Innen verstärkt nach sozialen Standards. Möchte seine Treibhausgasemissionen in Scope 1 und 2 um 80% reduzieren und verpflichtet sich, den Anteil an erneuerbarem Strom von 34% (2017) auf 100% zu erhöhen – bis 2025
Food
Aldi Süd - Commits to reducing its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2025 compared to the base year 2016. In addition, 75% of its suppliers are to pursue science-based climate targets by 2024.
Kaufland - Science-based climate targets are now also being implemented at Kaufland Germany. In the coming months, the supermarket chain will define specific targets and measures to avoid extensive CO2 emissions in its operations and supply chain. The focus will be on mobility, a regional product range and a refrigeration/air conditioning network. For example, 134 free fast-charging stations are to supply e-vehicles with 100% renewable energy, regional products are to be expanded and stores are to be heated almost entirely using waste heat from the refrigerated shelves.
Tchibo - The Hamburg-based company plans to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50% by 2030 compared to 2018. Tchibo is following the Science Based Targets initiative and is committed to further reducing energy consumption at its own locations, intensifying the use of renewable energies and reducing emissions in its global supply chains in a targeted manner.
Penny - The grocery group is trying an experiment. The price tags on some of its products in a test supermarket in Berlin-Spandau display the “true costs”. This is about the impact of nitrogen, greenhouse gases, energy and land use changes along the supply chain. However, as always, customers have to pay the prices at the checkout without true costs.
Mobility
BMW Group - The car manufacturer wants to reduce 30% of all CO2 emissions from its cars, from construction to scrapping. For a fleet of over 2.5 million vehicles produced by the BMW Group in 2019, this would correspond to a reduction of more than 40 million tons of CO2 in 2030. This is roughly equivalent to the amount of CO2 emitted by the city of Munich in four years. In addition, 2/3 of all BMW cars sold are to be electric by 2030. Among other things, the CO2 footprint will be established as an award criterion in the company's own supply chain.
Deutsche Bahn - Converts its CO2 reduction targets to science-based targets. By 2030, 50% of all CO2 emissions are to be reduced - from the 2006 level - and DB aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. Today, however, it still uses 250 million liters of diesel on routes where there are no electric lines. DB is therefore now testing eco-diesel made from waste materials such as old cooking oil.
Mercedes & “The Climate Pledge” - Amazon and Global Optimism founded the climate initiative “The Climate Pledge” in 2019. The Stuttgart-based car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz joined in 2020 and now wants to become climate-neutral by 2039. To achieve this, the company's own car and van plants are to have CO2-neutral production from 2022 - 30 worldwide. The company's own battery production is also to be CO2-neutral worldwide from 2022.
Digital & Service
Apple's eco-alliance - Battery manufacturer Varta, one of the world's largest suppliers of batteries for headphones and headsets, also supplies iPhone manufacturer Apple. Specifically, Varta was allowed to equip AirPods with its mini batteries. Now, the supplier is joining Apple's climate campaign and wants to become climate-neutral by 2030.
BCG - Wants to become climate-neutral by 2030, confirming the trend of its own study. According to BCG, 75% of all German companies are planning concrete measures for decarbonization, but only 16% have already implemented them. CO2 reduction must therefore be integrated into all strategic and operational dimensions of a company as quickly as possible - from the structure and processes to the use of digital technologies.
Bertelsmann - aims to reduce 50% of its emissions by 2030, compared to 2018, by using 100% renewable energy and offsetting remaining emissions.
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