The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has tested and officially confirmed Symrise’s sustainability performance meets its highest standard. The audit team is backed by organisations including CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF).
SBTi’s evaluators have determined the company’s intentions meet the goal of limiting the human-induced global temperature increase due to the greenhouse effect to 1.5 °C. The organisation stipulates companies set science-based goals in the transition to a low-carbon economy. In doing so, it says, companies can both protect the climate and increase their own competitiveness. More than 2,500 companies worldwide have reportedly submitted data and undergone review, a number which has risen in recent years.
“We feel proud to stand up to the rigorous scrutiny of the Science Based Targets Initiative in all three target dimensions. We take it very seriously to do our part to protect the climate and limit the rise in global temperatures. After all, we supported as one of the first companies what has become a major initiative,” says Bernhard Kott, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise. “Our high standards ensure that we can operate climate-positive starting in 2030, particularly through increasing process and energy efficiency and specific certified climate protection projects.”
The SBTi has determined the three goals submitted by Symrise meet all its criteria in terms of time frame, emissions coverage and ambition. The company has committed to reducing its absolute greenhouse gas emissions and those of its energy suppliers by 80% by 2028 as compared to 2020, while it has committed to a reduction of 30% in the climate damaging gases released in its upstream and downstream supply chain.
It has also committed to sourcing all of its electricity from renewable sources worldwide, a goal the company achieved in 2020.
“In addition, we have succeeded in reducing energy requirements for the production of raw materials and in plant logistics. To achieve this we have asked our suppliers to define their own energy and climate goals. Therefore, we now also fulfil the SBTi criteria for Scope 3,” said Dr Helmut Frieden, VP Corporate Sustainability Symrise. The creation of raw materials reportedly accounts for around 92% of Scope 3 carbon emissions.