STOCKHOLM - Essity’s new targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emission have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

As a result, the global hygiene company's sustainability targets are now aligned with the Paris agreement objectives to keep global temperature increase below 2°C.

The commitment includes absolute targets for energy, electricity, transports, raw materials, suppliers and waste. For energy use within the company and purchased electricity (scope 1 and 2), Essity has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2030 from a 2016 base-year.

Essity has also committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from purchased key raw materials, transport, waste generated in operations and end-of-life treatment of sold products (scope 3), by 18 per cent by 2030 from a 2016 base-year.

“Essity’s goal to reduce emissions through the whole value chain has now been approved by leading, independent organizations and it clarifies our contribution to the Paris agreement," said Magnus Groth, President and CEO, Essity. "To reach our targets, collaboration and innovating resource efficient products and solutions is essential.”

The Science Based Targets initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments.