Kraft Heinz pledges to cut GHG emissions and achieve net-zero

16 Dec 2021 --- Kraft Heinz has committed to eradicate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its operations and global supply chain by 2050. 

The company will target near-term emissions reductions of 50% by 2030. 

“Through partnerships with leading NGOs and across our supply chain, we look to seize opportunities to reduce emissions and minimize our footprint, from the farms that grow our ingredients to the manufacturing facilities that prepare our products,” says Kraft Heinz, CEO Miguel Patricio.

Sustainably sourced tomatoes
In line with the carbon neutrality pledge, the company will promote regenerative practices in the agricultural supply chain through the Sustainable Agricultural Practices Manual, which guides efforts to sustainably source tomatoes by 2025.

Another critical step in the process is to transition to recyclable consumer packaging, circularity of operations, procuring electricity from renewable sources and transitioning on-site manufacturing facilities to renewable energy sources. 

“As one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, we take seriously our responsibility to slash our environmental impact in the face of climate change,” says Patricio.Kraft Heinz will work with suppliers in the ingredients and packaging sectors to reach emissions reductions of 50% by 2030.  

Key suppliers join forces
An assessment conducted by Kraft Heinz in 2020 and 2021 of the total value chain emissions revealed that its Scope 3 emissions account for 95% of the total, which will be the primary focus of reduction efforts.

GHG emissions are classed into three groups called “scopes” by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Scope 1 covers direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating and cooling consumed by the reporting company. 

Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions in a company’s value chain.

Kraft Heinz will work with suppliers in the ingredients and packaging sectors, accounting for 62% and 12% of its Scope 3 footprint.

In line with this, several food industry stakeholders have stepped up and leveraged the decarbonization roadmap. 

Science-based emissions
Kraft Heinz also renewed its commitment to set a science-based emissions reduction target by 2023, aligning with the new Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard.

Other focus areas will include upstream and downstream transportation and distribution, end-of-life treatment and use of sold products.

Kraft Heinz will report its emissions footprint in its Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report annually.

The Kraft Heinz Company is consolidating its US and Canada businesses to create the “North America Zone,” which is expected to take effect in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. These two accounted for approximately 80% of the food titan’s 2020 consolidated net sales.

Edited by Inga de Jong