To reduce emissions in line with the latest climate science criteria, Eckes-Granini is working with the independent Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The SBTi defines and promotes best practices in setting science-based targets and evaluates companies' emissions reduction goals. Sponsors of the initiative include the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). The international Eckes-Granini Group has joined the initiative to contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C by setting ambitious climate protection targets. Following an intensive review, the SBTi today approved that Eckes-Granini's greenhouse gas reduction targets are consistent with levels required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Among many other impacts, increasing global warming poses massive risks to agriculture. However, the success of Eckes-Granini and its brands depends to a large extent on fruit and vegetable cultivation. Even more reason for us as a company to feel obliged to act in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement. For us, this means reducing or even avoiding climate-damaging greenhouse gases caused directly or indirectly by business activities step by step through a wide range of measures and setting ambitious targets for this purpose.

Eckes-Granini aims to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions from its business activities (Scopes 1 and 2) by 95% by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline. The plan is to continuously reduce energy consumption (electricity, heat, steam) and replace heat and steam generation systems with climate-friendly alternatives to reduce natural gas consumption. In addition, our own fleet of cars and trucks is to be converted 100% to climate-friendly drive technology.

Furthermore, Eckes-Granini has set itself the goal of reducing indirect greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain (Scope 3), which are caused by corporate activities but are often not under the company’s control (e.g., at suppliers and service providers), by 50% per liter by 2030 compared to the 2019 baseline. Key measures to achieve the reduction targets include in packaging, to gradually switch to material from recycled and renewable sources; in logistics, to further expand our network and optimize capacity utilization; in transportation, to shift additional transport volumes to rail and ship; in respect of our suppliers and farmers, to provide intensive support to reduce emissions along the upstream raw material value chain.

In 2022 we have conducted a carbon footprint for the Eckes-Granini Group based on 2021 data: We generated 24,322 tonnes of Scope 1 and 2 emissions and 510,328 tonnes of Scope 3 emissions. Compared to the base year 2019, we have achieved a reduction of 6% Scope 1 and 2 emissions (2019: 25,896 tonnes) and 18% Scope 3 emissions (2019: 623,938 tonnes) representing 12% less kg of CO2 equivalents per liter sold.¹ ²

¹ including investments (former 2019 figures in Sustainability Report 2021 calculated without investments)
² emissions from all Eckes-Granini subsidiaries, including EGSSA, our joint venture with Nestlé Waters in Switzerland