Ball Corporation, which specialises in producing beverage and aerosol packaging across 26 countries, has committed to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 (direct) emissions by 27% by 2030, against a 2017 baseline of 1.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG).

The firm has additionally pledged to reduce its Scope 3 (indirect) emissions by a quarter within the same timeline, after revealing that GHG emissions from its value chain totalled 13.2 million tonnes of CO2e last year. 85% of these emissions were accounted for by the processes of mining, refining, smelting, casting and rolling metals, as well as end-of-life recycling. 

The goals, announced alongside the publication of the latest iteration of Ball Corporation’s sustainability report, have been set in line with the Paris Agreement’s flagship commitment of limiting the global temperature increase below 2C. Ball Corporation said in a statement that the combined effects of the science-based aims would enable the company to reduce its emissions intensity by 60% by 2030.

“We remain committed to improving our operational sustainability performance and in making the can the most sustainable package in the supply chain,” Ball Corporation’s chief executive, chairman and president, John Hayes, said.

“To further our progress, we are setting a science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction target. Establishing this target communicates our commitment to engaging our employees and our supply chain in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

The move to set science-based targets comes after Ball Corporation reached its five-year carbon intensity reduction aim for 2015 on time, having reduced its carbon intensity by 23% between 2010 and 2017.

In order to reach the new aims, Ball has said it will adopt a “three-pronged approach”, moving to purchase more renewable power, improve its resource and energy efficiency and work with partners at all levels of its supply chain to reduce upstream impacts.

The new normal

As global megatrends such as population growth and climate change continue to add pressures to society and the world we operate in, Ball Corporation is among the ever-growing number of large businesses to set carbon reduction goals through the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Climate challenges have so far spurred more than 100 companies, including L’OrealIkea, and Molson Coors, to set SBTi-verified goals aligning to 2C, while TescoBT and Carlsberg remain the only three corporations to have received verification for more ambitious goals in line with a 1.5C trajectory. 

Meanwhile, more than 400 other large businesses have committed to set an approved science-based target on one of the trajectories.

Ball Beverage Packaging Europe’s sustainability director Ramon Arratia will appear on edie’s Sustainable Business Covered podcast in the coming weeks. As part of a dedicated “Green Room” episode, Arratia will discuss the evolving conversation regarding packaging and the need for life-cycle analysis when bringing solutions to market.

Sarah George

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