Beer company Heineken revealed today that suppliers representing 80% of the company’s packaging carbon footprint have committed to or are in the process of setting science-based climate targets with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), marking a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to address its supply chain climate impact.

SBTi is one of the key organizations focused on aligning corporate environmental sustainability action with the global goals of addressing and limiting climate change. Last year, the organization launched its Net Zero Standard, setting stringent criteria which it will use to assess and certify corporate commitments to achieve net zero emissions. SBTi also recently tightened its criteria for approved climate targets, announcing that it will only accept targets aligned with its 1.5°C warming ambition, as required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.  

The announcement follows the launch by Heineken of the “Packaging the Future” initiative in May, a program to work with the company’s top 50 suppliers to join SBTi, set an approved emissions reduction target, and to commit to using 100% renewable energy.

Last year, Heineken announced a series of climate goals, including targets to decarbonize its own production by 2030 and its full value chain by 2040. According to the company, value chain emissions account for 90% of Heineken’s total carbon footprint, with packaging accounting for 27% of the total.

In a social media post today, the company highlighted several packaging suppliers that have already set targets with SBTi, including Ardagh Group, BA Glass, Ball Corp, Canpack, Crown Holdings, DS Smith, Klabin, BillerudKorsnäs O-I, Verallia, Vidrala and WestRock, and revealed that around 20 others have committed to joining.

Heineken Sustainability Lead Yashica Kasiram said:

“We count on our suppliers, our partners and our peers to join us in raising the bar and taking action. Because to reach our goal for net zero, this is only achievable if we are doing it together.”