The SBTi has approved Vanderlande’s near-term targets to cut scope 1 and 2 emissions by 59%, and scope 3 by 35% – all by financial year 2034 (using FY2022 as the base year). Scope 1 and 2 emissions include those from the use of purchased electricity and fossil fuels that Vanderlande requires to power its buildings and vehicles. Scope 3 are indirect emissions generated through the company’s value chain, including the purchase of goods and services as well as the energy consumption of Vanderlande’s solutions during their use by customers.
“We made a commitment to the SBTi in 2023, and since then we’ve been working hard to gather data and assess where the greatest impact can be made,” says David Duque Lozano, Sustainability Project Manager with Vanderlande. “We’re delighted that our targets have been validated – they will help us to continue embedding sustainability across our business and create value by reducing energy costs for ourselves and our customers.”
To meet its scope 1 and 2 obligations, Vanderlande will increase the share of renewable energy that it generates and buys, while bringing other renewable energy sources into the mix. The company will also improve its energy efficiency by upgrading insulation, lighting and HVAC systems. In addition, it will continue to transition from fossil fuel-based heating solutions to electric alternatives.
For scope 3, Vanderlande will redesign products so that they use fewer materials, and switch to alternatives that are less carbon-intensive. Work here will include collaborating with suppliers to source more sustainable products. The company will also improve the energy efficiency of its solutions to reduce the amount of electricity they use.
“Sustainability is a strategic priority for our company, and our ecosystem expects us to step up. We’re working both internally and with customers and suppliers to minimise our impact, and SBTi acts as our license to operate,” says Fieke Fleskens, Corporate Sustainability Officer at Vanderlande. “Validation of our SBTs not only underscores our commitment to doing what is ethically right by reducing our carbon footprint, it also demonstrates that there are commercial benefits for both Vanderlande and our customers.”