Smurfit Kappa’s emissions targets ‘in line with Paris Agreement’

Packaging giant Smurfit Kappa’s emissions reduction targets are consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has said.

The targets approved by the initiative cover greenhouse gas emissions from Smurfit Kappa’s operations.

"The SBTi validation builds on our well-established sustainability credentials and is an extremely positive development for Smurfit Kappa and all our stakeholders," said Tony Smurfit, group chief executive. "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."

The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting in the transition to a low-carbon economy, independently assessing companies' targets in terms of what the latest climate science says is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature.

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Validation

The approval is a validation of Smurfit Kappa’s sustainability goals. The company said in 2020 it would target at least net zero fossil emissions by 2050, the first in the industry to do so, and introduced new sustainability targets under its Better Planet 2050 initiative.

"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," said Garrett Quinn, chief sustainability officer.

“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.”