Sappi’s science-based targets approved, a significant milestone on our decarbonisation journey

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has approved our target to reduce carbon emissions 41.5% per ton of product by 2030, as well as our commitment that 44% of our suppliers by spend have science-based targets by 2026.

When we set our decarbonisation targets in 2020, approval by SBTi was the gold standard we were reaching for. The organisation is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

We knew that achieving this milestone would sharpen our focus, ambition and responsibility to decarbonise across our global business. Now, in 2022 with our target affirmed by SBTi that’s exactly what’s happening.

Putting plan to action

With decarbonisation plans in place for each of our regions, and investments flowing into emission reduction projects in mills, tremendous momentum is flowing across Sappi. We now have an even more clearly defined roadmap to illuminate the path to 2030.

Each region’s decarbonisation plan is based on a combination of capital investments in assets, process efficiency improvements and increased purchases of renewable energy.

“Realising these plans requires marshalling the expertise and creativity of our people like never before. But it’s a challenge that our teams are embracing with a spirit of eco-effective ingenuity that’s unique to Sappi.” – Tracy Wessels, Group Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations

This news is also accelerating our efforts to build a thriving world by unlocking the renewable power of wood fibre. Our responsible land and forestry management practices along with our pulp, paper and biomaterials provide value-adding solutions in a carbon-constrained world. Our R&D teams are showing that carbon-cutting breakthroughs in paper science are within reach today and getting even better tomorrow.

Destination decarbonisation

On this journey to decarbonise our business we are bringing together the brilliance  of technology, the power of  nature and the creativity of  people. While this is an immense challenge, it is one we are embracing with enthusiasm and steadfast determination. Discover some of the breakthrough projects that show our climate ambition in action!

Our target, approved by SBTi

Sappi Limited commits to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions 41.5% per ton of product by 2030 from a 2019 base year. Sappi Limited also commits that 44% of its suppliers by spend will have science-based targets by 2026.

Inspiring suppliers and supporting customers

This is an important milestone for our suppliers as well. Our suppliers play an essential role in our business, providing us with woodfibre and other materials and services with an indirect emissions impact (referred to as Scope III).

We’ll be vigorously engaging with them to create science-based targets of their own, striving towards our target of 44% by spend by 2026. Because the more suppliers we can inspire to decarbonise their operations in the value chain, the faster the world can mitigate the effects of climate change.

Equally, we recognise our responsibility to assist our customers on their own decarbonisation journeys. With SBTi approval, our reporting can better enable our customers to reduce their own Scope III emissions and fulfil other climate related commitments.

“We believe strongly that the full benefit for people and the planet can only occur if value chains collaborate and help each other.” – Steve Binnie, CEO Sappi Limited

This is also especially exciting news for our customers in South Africa where as of 2022 we are only the fifth South African company to receive approval of science-based targets.

Aligned to thrive with the SDGs

Our SBTi approved targets are part of Sappi’s much larger global and regional commitments to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and are also reflected in our Thrive 25 strategy.

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2023 Sappi Annual Integrated Report