Gerresheimer, innovative system and solution provider and global partner for the pharma and biotech industry, has joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The organisation supports companies in using sound science to set and work toward targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The SBTi will verify whether Gerresheimer’s own CO2 reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement before transparently documenting the company’s progress on its platform.
By 2030, Gerresheimer aims to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% compared to the base year 2019. In addition, the company has committed itself to setting a specific reduction target for Scope 3 emissions within the next 24 months. By joining the SBTi, Gerresheimer is underscoring its ambitious sustainability targets as part of its formula g corporate strategy.
Sustainability – especially responsibility for the climate impact of our operating business – is an inseparable part of that for us
- Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Gerresheimer
“As a global partner to the pharma and biotech industry, we want to help improve the quality of life of millions of patients worldwide through our products and solutions,” said Dietmar Siemssen, CEO of Gerresheimer. “Sustainability – especially responsibility for the climate impact of our operating business – is an inseparable part of that for us.”
Reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement
As part of its formula g corporate strategy, Gerresheimer aims to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% by 2030. Scope 1 emissions include all emissions that Gerresheimer causes directly in the course of its business activities. Indirect emissions generated to produce and source energy are included in Scope 2 emissions. Gerresheimer plans to use state-of-the-art production technology to reduce energy demand while meeting 100% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030.
The SBTi will validate whether the Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050.
Over the next two years, Gerresheimer will also formulate targets for reducing Scope 3 emissions in accordance with the SBTi’s best practice guidelines. Scope 3 includes indirect emissions that occur in the upstream and downstream value chain, such as in connection with the procurement of raw materials from suppliers, logistics processes, or subsequent disposal.
SBTi – framework for science-based climate change mitigation
The Science Based Targets initiative was founded in 2015 by CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It provides companies with a clearly defined framework for reducing emissions in accordance with the latest scientific findings and in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement, allowing them to help limit global warming. More than 5,700 companies around the world have already joined the initiative.
Transparent sustainability reporting
Joining the SBTi underpins Gerresheimer’s goal of providing transparent, sound, and comparable information on its sustainability activities, targets, measures, and outcomes in accordance with best practice standards.
In addition to publishing a sustainability report every year, Gerresheimer also discloses relevant data as part of the ratings issued by CDP, EcoVadis, and other organisations. MSCI, Sustainalytics, and ISS also evaluate Gerresheimer’s sustainability performance. An overview of Gerresheimer’s external sustainability ratings can be found here.
