We are working hard to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and have committed to using 100% renewable electricity and achieving carbon neutrality in our own operations by 2025. We are also looking beyond our own operations to understand how to reduce the emissions in our supply chain.
Targeted action where we can make a meaningful impact on the environment.
In 2022, absolute GHG emissions from our operations decreased 33% from 2017 (37% when factoring in offsets from our tree plantings). While some of this reduction was due to a decline in internal production and sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant portion was driven by our increased use of renewable electricity and energy efficiency projects. This is reflected in our carbon intensity: GHG emissions normalized by revenue decreased by 19% from 2017 (23% when factoring in offsets).
In 2022, we partnered with expert consultants to help us measure and assess our Scope 3 (indirect value chain) emissions for the first time.
In 2022, we implemented many energy efficiency measures at our facilities such as upgrading heating boilers with more efficient models, and installing programmable, automated heating systems.
As at end 2022, around 40% of our global square footage was lit with LEDs and at least 35% was fitted with energy conserving motion sensors and timers.
We aim to power our operations with 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and, in 2022, 25% of our electricity use came from renewable sources (21% from purchased renewable electricity and 4% from on-site solar generation).
During 2022, we expanded the solar panel array at our manufacturing plant in Belgium and purchased 540 MWh of renewable power through utility offered programs in the US and UK, and 9,953 MWh of EACs in Hungary and Belgium.
In 2022, we took significant steps to build our understanding of the business’s climate-related risks and opportunities, physical risks, and transition risks to a lower carbon economy.
The most important physical risk is an increase in extreme heat, although several sites also face increased risk from extreme precipitation. Potential transition risks include increased costs and/or scarcity of the raw materials used to manufacture our products. However, our efforts to improve the sustainability of our products also provide an opportunity to grow our market share with ecologically minded consumers.
In 2023, we are introducing new climate risk management guidelines to ensure that we continue to consider the risks associated with climate change in our decision-making.
We have published an Environmental, Social and Governance Report since 2016 and continue to share our progress on an annual basis.
You will also find our statement on Modern Slavery in this section.
