Chr. Hansen launches science-based climate targets

Pursuing a low-carbon future, Chr. Hansen’s Science Based Targets form the core of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint towards 2030.

Under its newly launched program “Think Climate. Naturally.”, the Danish bioscience company and leader sets out to decouple its climate impact from economic growth.

Chr. Hansen announced in November 2021 two science-based climate targets that will form the basis of the company’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint:

• 42% reduction of greenhouse gases across scopes 1 and 2 by 2030
  Scopes 1 and 2 cover the direct emissions from Chr. Hansen’s own operations and the indirect emissions associated with its consumption of grid-supplied energy – a 1.5 degree aligned reduction pathway reflecting the ambition of the Paris Agreement. Emissions across scopes 1 and 2 make up 13% of Chr. Hansen’s total greenhouse gas emissions for the financial year 2020/21.

• 20% reduction of greenhouse gases from scope 3 by 2030
  Scope 3 covers the indirect emissions associated with activities across the entire value chain, from the sourcing of raw materials to the transportation of products and employee commuting. Scope 3 makes up 87% of Chr. Hansen’s total emissions for the financial year 2020/21. In addition to our own program, future technological advancements and increasing climate commitment by our supply chain are vital factors for achieving the scope 3 target.

“Chr. Hansen is privileged to be seen as a sustainability enabler by our customers and partners. We have worked successfully with carbon intensity targets across our operations for many years, but the world is facing widespread and intensifying climate change. Taking climate action that is rooted in the latest scientific consensus is a natural step-up for Chr. Hansen and it is perfectly in line with our 2025 Strategy,” says CEO of Chr. Hansen, Mauricio Graber.

Taking action now

The climate targets are validated by The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Therefore, Chr. Hansen has established a clear pathway to decarbonisation of its business. Group-wide workshops have been held to define the most impactful carbon saving activities and implementation has already started.

“Through ‘Think Climate. Naturally.’, we are future-proofing our business for a low-carbon future, making a lasting commitment that sparks climate action here and now. While taking climate action, we intend to closely follow how the net-zero methodology develops and what it would require from Chr. Hansen,” explains Camilla Lercke, Director of Sustainability & ESG at Chr. Hansen.

“But to achieve change at scale and at speed, it requires engagement beyond our own organisation. We have already seen how thinking climate is driving positive change, and we look forward to engaging further on the climate agenda with customers, suppliers, policy makers and other stakeholders,” Lercke points out.

Source: Chr. Hansen