Tate & Lyle has carbon goals approve by Science Based Targets initiative

The targets have now been approved by the SBTi as consistent with levels required to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement

Tate & Lyle’s new environmental targets and commitments are set for 2030, confirming a 30% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, with a 25% reduction set for 2025. Additionally, the company will aim to deliver an absolute reduction in Scope 3 emissions of 15% by 2030. These targets were announced in May 2020.

The targets have now been approved by the SBTi as consistent with levels required to meet the climate goals of the Paris Agreement.

Tate & Lyle’s chief executive Nick Hampton said: “At Tate & Lyle, we are passionate about making our contribution to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and minimising the worst effects of climate change.

“That’s why, inspired by our purpose Improving Lives for Generations, we have set ourselves ambitious environmental targets that are aligned to what the latest climate science is telling us we need to do. We are committed to working actively across our supply chain to help improve our environment and shape a better world.”

As part of edie’s ongoing #SustyTalk interview series, Tate & Lyle’s director of sustainability Anna Pierce discussing the firm’s environmental targets and why an approach to value chain emissions is crucial in building back better.

The interview, which took place during the national lockdown in the UK saw Pierce discus the support that can be provided to growers to help the value chain become more sustainable. Watch the interview here.

As for the SBTi, the companies overseeing the initiative – CDP, UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and WWF – have issued its first guidance on what will ultimately lead to the development of a new global standard to ensure that corporate net-zero carbon targets are aligned with climate science.

The Foundations for Science-Based Net-Zero Target Setting in the Corporate Sector paper has been released by the SBTi earlier this week. The paper was created following consultation with businesses, financial organisation, conservation organisations and the scientific community. The paper is the first step in an effort to ensure that corporate net-zero targets are aligned to climate science and efforts to deliver a net-zero world by no later than 2050.

Already, 270 companies have made commitments in line with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 through the SBTi’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign, led by the SBTi in partnership with the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition. 


edie’s Green Recovery online sessions

The first raft of speakers has been confirmed for edie’s series of free green recovery-themed webinars – which will have a heavy focus on net-zero strategies – taking place on Wednesday 23 September, with sustainable business experts from Aldersgate Group, BT, Bank of England, Ella’s Kitchen, UKGBC all among the line-up. 

Click here to find out more information and to register for the sessions.

Matt Mace

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