Graham Packaging Co. has received third-party validation of its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals by the Science-Based Targets initiative.
The initiative is a global group that includes climate change organizations that establishes "a clearly defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to levels necessary to meet the Paris Agreement."
The company seeks to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by the end of 2030, according to Tracee Auld, chief strategy and sustainability office at the Lancaster, Pa.-based packaging company. Graham Packaging is using 2020 as a baseline for its reduction targets.
The company's GHG reduction goals include direct emissions, also known as Scope 1 emissions, as well as emissions from energy purchased by the company, also known as Scope 2 emissions. The company's reduction efforts further involve Scope 3 emissions, or indirect emissions related to activities both upstream and downstream of the company's operations. This includes, for example, emissions from a resin maker or other supplier to Graham Packaging. Scope 3 emissions often represent the largest portion of GHG emissions for a company, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"By setting ambitious targets in line with the latest climate science, we are taking decisive action to address the urgent challenge of climate change. By gaining this validation, we hope to continue to support our customers to achieve their own sustainability goals while fostering a more resilient future for all," CEO Bob Pyle said in a statement.
SBTi is a collaboration on between CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. "The SBTi defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies' targets," the group said.
The Paris Agreement, signed by about 200 countries in 2015, seeks to limit global warming.
Graham Packaging indicated in its 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance Report that the company has decreased GHG emissions by 6 percent from the 2020 baseline.
"Reducing our GHG emissions in a meaningful way requires a unified effort on many fronts. We continue to reduce emissions through lightweighting technologies, increased [post-consumer resin] incorporation and improved energy efficiency — including the use of renewable energy. We also encourage our suppliers to reduce their GHG emissions, creating positive impact across our value chain," the company said in its ESG report.
Graham Packaging reduced Scope 1 emissions by 17 percent and Scope 2 emissions by 10 percent in 2022 compared with 2021, the company said.