European baked goods manufacturer Baker & Baker has heralded a ‘significant milestone’ on its emissions reduction journey having gained approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The business, which has 12 sites across the continent including four in England, has received approval from the SBTi for its near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets. This includes a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2040, in line with the 1.5°C science-based pathway.
In addition, it has near-term energy & industry and FLAG (Forest, Land and Agriculture) targets approved by the SBTi. The near-term energy & industry goal is a 42% reduction of absolute scope 1, 2 and selected scope 3 GHG emissions by 2030 from a 2022 base year.
The FLAG targets, meanwhile, are:
- A 30.3% reduction of absolute scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 2030 from a 2022 base year
- A 72% reduction of absolute scope 3 FLAG GHG emissions by 2040 from a 2022 base year
- A commitment to no deforestation across the Group’s primary deforestation-linked commodities, with a target date of December 31, 2025.
SBTi is a climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combatting the climate crisis. It develops standards, tools, and guidance which allow companies to set greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below ‘catastrophic levels’ and reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest.
Baker & Baker said the targets lay out a clear timeline for the business to eliminate carbon emissions from its manufacturing operations and supply chain.
As such, it is prioritising decarbonisation with several projects already under way, including energy and carbon-reduction modelling across its manufacturing sites, the installation of a large solar panel array at the Group’s Santo Tirso site in Portugal, and engagement with key ingredient suppliers on their decarbonisation journeys. The latter will be critical to ensure the Group is able to deliver across all of its targets, and in particular, its FLAG commitments, it noted.
“We’re extremely pleased to have received validation of our net-zero targets from the Science Based Targets initiative,” said Baker & Baker CEO Matthew Acheson, who stepped into the leadership role earlier this year.
“We recognise the need to reduce carbon emissions across the business, and were keen to ensure our targets were not only viable and realistic, but developed in line with climate science. Many of our key customers have or are in the process of setting SBTi targets of their own, and our decarbonisation journey will directly support their net-zero commitments,” he added.
Baker & Baker was supported by two established sustainability consultancies, 3Keel and Canopy: Sustainability Consulting, in developing its net-zero targets, decarbonisation strategy, and securing verification from the SBTi.
There are a handful of other manufacturers in the bakery space which have had their targets validated by SBTi. This includes Compleat Food Group, Délifrance, and Bakkavor.
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