Earlier this month Reach announced its near-term science based targets for reducing its greenhouse gases emissions, which it says have been validated by SBTi Services, an independent corporate climate action organisation.
According to Reach, the targets are as follows:
- Reach PLC commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2022 base year. Reach Plc also commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services, capital goods, fuel-and energy-related activities, upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, business travel, and employee commuting 58.8% by 2034 from a 2022 base year.
From a 2022 baseline, Reach says it has so far reduced its total market-based carbon footprint by 11.5%. In recent years, the publisher added it has taken several steps to reduce its emissions, including engaging more closely with suppliers to support mutually beneficial emission reductions and investing in solar panels to produce renewable energy at all three printing facilities, leading to a 4.8% reduction in electricity consumption and 4.6% reduction in heating gas.
Following this near term target validation, Reach says it will firstly focus on immediate emissions reductions in line with the Paris Agreement, and will then begin working on setting a long term target to build on this work.
Darren Fisher, Reach chief financial officer, who oversees Reach’s carbon reduction efforts, said: “We’re very glad to mark this important milestone with our first validated science-based targets. Thanks to the hard work and meticulous reporting from our teams over the past few years, we are now able to set a clear path to net zero.”
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