Reaching Carbon Neutrality
Setting And Meeting Ambitious Targets
Our ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality in our direct operations by 2025 and carbon positivity after that. Organizations can only achieve net zero by reducing emissions and implementing a combination of insetting projects and offsetting purchases.
"At Firmenich, we are taking the necessary measures to minimize our impact and aim to lead our industry towards carbon and water neutrality."
Neil McFarlane
Sr Vice President Global QHSE
1.5°C Climate Ambition
We are an early signatory of "Business Ambition for 1.5°C," a coalition of more than 600 visionary companies committed to the transition to a net zero carbon future by 2050.
We set targets, aligned with a 1.5°C scenario, to reduce our absolute scope 1 and scope 2 by 55% by 2030 compared to 2017; levels prescribed by the special report on global warming of 1.5°C. This year, we reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 37.1% vs. 2017 and our Scope 3 emissions by 2.6% vs. 2017.
Firmenich’s 2025 path to carbon neutrality includes renewable electricity and fuels, energy efficiency initiatives, as well as voluntary carbon offsets. We have already made significant progress by sourcing 100% renewable electricity. We will continue to improve the energy efficiency of our sites and explore sustainable alternatives to conventional fuels.
Science-Based Targets Aligned With 1.5°C
Our targets are in line with levels prescribed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C. They are:
Climate Leadership
Firmenich was ranked #1 in its category in the Financial Times Climate Leaders and named one of the top ten companies in Switzerland. In addition, we not only engage colleagues and suppliers, but also advocates with key stakeholders, NGOs and lawmakers outside our industry. For example, we joined the Assessing Low-Carbon Transition® (ACT) initiative; were one of 84 companies to discuss climate change with US lawmakers in 2021 at the annual LEAD on Climate virtual advocacy day; and are part of Race to Zero, a global UN campaign towards a zero carbon recovery.
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Firmenich signed the French Business Climate Pledge demonstrating its commitment to low-carbon technologies, products, and services for a green economy. |
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Firmenich's CEO joined a call to action with the Corporate Leaders Group (CLG), urging the European Union to promote effective policies aiming at reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. |
CO₂ emissions : Scope 3
Inventory & Strategy
Scope 3 emissions from outside our direct operations account for 96% of our total GHG emissions and are mostly from purchased goods and services, business travel, employee commuting, and outbound EG/IG transportation and distribution. We have therefore set science-based targets covering our Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services, and 2025 reduction goals on our other most material Scope 3 categories.
This year, Firmenich established a Transportation and Distribution (T&D) Center of Excellence. To meet its 2025 EG/IG Transportation goal, three initiatives were launched: moving from a historic air freight program to sea freight program potentially saving 700+ metric tons of CO₂ per year; launching a New Ocean Global Logistics Model; and exploring potential new rail solutions.
During the pandemic, virtual meetings and working from home have changed the way we work. Business travel and employee commuting will be very different in the future. Nonetheless, we remain committed to offsetting 100% of our air business travel and employee commuting emissions by 2025.
Reducing Impact In Our Supply Chain
This year, we were recognized as a global leader in corporate sustainability with a triple "A" rating from CDP, making us one of only two companies in the world to achieve this recognition three years in a row.
Through our responsible sourcing policy and supplier engagement program, we encourage our suppliers to develop detailed plans to reduce their environmental impacts.
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By 2025, suppliers representing 80% of our spend will respond to CDP climate change and share their improvement plans. This year, we reached out to suppliers representing 55% of our spend. Out of the suppliers who replied, 80% had implemented emission reduction projects. |
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We aim to have 75% of our suppliers who respond to CDP water set reduction target. |
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To further promote transparency in our supply chain, we also collaborate closely with our suppliers and ask them to respond to the CDP Forests disclosure survey. Having access to primary data allows us to better understand policies, initiatives, risks and gaps in our own supply chain and determine corrective actions. |
Acting On Climate, Water And Waste
Urgent and concerted global action is needed to address climate change. We are acting to minimize our impact on climate change and aim to lead our industry towards zero carbon emissions.
