Surpassing its initial goal of an 8% reduction in Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions four years ahead of schedule, Berry Global commits to reducing its absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 25% by 2025 (from the same 2019 baseline).

The new Scope 3 target is aligned with Berry’s existing Scope 1 and 2 commitments and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). SBTi approval confirms Berry’s ambitious value chain goal is in line with current best practice and consistent with actions required to help limit warming to 1.5°C and prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.

“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. And we are committed to advancing the transition to a net-zero economy,” says Robert Flores, Berry Global’s vice president of Sustainability. “Quickly surpassing and increasing our Scope 3 emissions target is a testament to Berry Global’s hard work, dedication, and collaboration across the plastics value chain to significantly reduce emissions.”

Berry’s efforts to minimize the environmental impact of its operations, including more efficient use of energy and water as well as increased renewable energy, are critical to the success of the company’s Impact 2025 sustainability strategy. The company has also set sustainable packaging goals to achieve 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable fast-moving consumer packaging by 2025 and 30% circular plastic use across its fast-moving consumer goods packaging by 2030. Circular plastics include recycled and renewable resins like bioplastics.

“As sustainability rightfully becomes more of a priority for our customers, reducing supply chain emissions is critical to helping them achieve their climate goals,” says Tarun Manroa, Berry Global’s EVP chief strategy officer and head of Global Purchasing. “This new target reinforces our alignment with a net zero economy and providing solutions for our customers’ sustainability commitments.”

The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Initiative, and World Wildlife Fund that defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ emissions reduction targets.

“We congratulate Berry Global on setting science-based targets consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement,” says Alberto Carrillo Pineda, managing director, Science Based Targets at CDP, one of the Science Based Targets initiative partners. “By setting ambitious science-based targets grounded in climate science, Berry Global is taking action to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.”