EP100: Thai Union pledges to double energy productivity

The aim of EP100 is not only to reduce the environmental impact of partaking firms

Run as part of a joint effort between The Climate Group and the Alliance to Save Energy, EP100 binds signatories to either doubling their energy productivity, making their buildings net-zero carbon or implementing an energy management system, based on which of these actions is most relevant to their business model.

Thai Union has opted for the first commitment and announced fresh measures to double energy productivity by 2041, against a 2016 baseline. The pledge requires Thai Union to double the economic output of each unit of energy – be that heat or electricity – it consumes. This can be achieved by either decreasing energy use while maintaining current financial levels, or capping energy consumption while growing financially.

As of July 2019, 50 corporates globally had joined the EP100. Notable additions to the cohort since then include the likes of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, but Thai Union is, at present, the only food producer and the only Thailand-headquartered firm to have signed up.

“The Climate Group congratulates Thai Union on leading by example – we need others in the global food industry to step up and do more with less energy,” The Climate Group’s chief executive Helen Clarkson said.

“Using energy more productively is essential for addressing the global climate crisis, but progress has been far too slow. We need far more action on energy-saving efforts to slash emissions and benefit businesses.”

Thai Union’s broader sustainability strategy – SeaChange – includes a commitment to reduce Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (power-related) emissions by 30% by the end of 2020, against a 2016 baseline.

Business benefits

In its first annual progress report on the EP100 last year, The Climate Group revealed that 18 of the initiative’s members collectively shaved $55m (£45m) off their energy costs.

This same group of companies also realised a further $76 in energy-related economic benefits elsewhere, bringing the total collective saving to $131m.

Companies taking part in EP100 include the likes of Hilton, H&M Group, Schneider Electric, Landsec and RBS.

Building on this report, The Climate Group’s head of energy productivity initiatives Jenny Chu recently penned an exclusive blog for edie, in which she outlines the necessity of energy productivity in the transition to a net-zero world and the changing economic climate. You can read that blog in full here.

Sarah George

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