Fazer's ambitious climate targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative

Fazer, The Food Experience Company, sees food as a solution. How food is grown, produced and consumed has a significant impact on the environment, on society and on our wellbeing. Fazer’s climate targets have now been approved and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Following the approved climate targets, Fazer’s emission reduction actions support the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C.  

The global food system is currently undergoing a fundamental change. The global climate crisis, increasing pace of food innovations and the rise of new technologies as well as fast evolving consumer trends are changing the way food is produced, distributed, consumed, and perceived. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the impact food has on their well-being and on the planet and increasingly demand to understand where their food is coming from and how it is produced.

“Fazer’s ambitious sustainability approach is reflected in our mission, Food with a purpose. Sustainability is at the very heart of our strategy, as we develop food as a solution for a more sustainable planet and business. Our sustainability agenda has always been ambitious, and our now approved targets show our commitment to climate action. Taking action, not only benefits our planet, but also our consumers and our business.”, Christoph Vitzthum, President and CEO of Fazer Group comments. 

Fazer acts to limit global warming to 1.5°C

Reducing emissions to mitigate climate change has been an essential part of Fazer’s sustainability agenda for a long time. As the science-based targets have become the globally recognized standard for companies setting carbon reduction targets, the commitment to the SBTi is a natural continuum to Fazer’s climate work. Fazer’s new climate targets are in line with the Paris Agreement targets to limit the global warming to 1.5°C. With the new targets, Fazer joins the forefront of international companies combating climate change.   

Fazer’s ambitious emission reduction targets include both its own operations and its value chain. Fazer will

• reduce its absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2020 base year
• reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2020 base year and
• engage 53% of its suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods and services & upstream transportation and distribution, to commit to the science-based targets by 2025

Fazer’s actions to reduce emissions

In order to reach the targets, Fazer focuses its actions on fossil-free energy and energy efficiency. Fazer has already for several years taken actions to use energy more efficiently in its production units and systematically switched to buy green electricity. In Finland, Sweden and Latvia the purchased electricity is already 100% green from fossil-free sources, while at the Group level the share was 86% in 2020.

Fazer’s recently updated energy and climate roadmap, which guides Fazer’s operations in all countries, further includes actions such as switching from natural gas to biogas, increasing heat recovery, improving ventilation, and investing in bio-heating facilities.

As the majority of Fazer Group’s total annual CO₂ emissions is related to raw material production in the value chain, cooperation with the supply chain will continue to play a central role in reducing the emissions also in the future. The aim is to reduce emissions both in Fazer’s own operations and throughout the entire value chain. Therefore, Fazer commits to that 53% of its suppliers by spend covering purchased goods and services and upstream transportation and distribution, will have science-based targets by 2025.

Fazer is actively monitoring the latest development in science and technology. We believe that there will be new fossil-free and low-carbon solutions upcoming and together with our business partners, customers and suppliers we will find new ways to reduce emissions in the future. Fazer reports on the progress of its climate actions on an annual basis.

“Fazer has had climate related targets for years. By joining the Science Based Targets initiative we will continue our climate work in a globally acknowledged framework together with our stakeholders. Companies and their supply chains have a crucial role in mitigating the climate change. By setting science-based targets, we are committing to reduce emissions, not only in our own business, but also in our value chain. Only by collaboration and joint actions throughout the value chain we are able to reach the needed emission reductions to meet the ambition level of the Paris Agreement.” Joséphine Mickwitz, Fazer Group’s EVP Communications and Sustainability, continues.   

What is SBTi?

The Science Based Targets initiative is a cooperation between United Nations Global Compact, World Resource Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). The aim of the initiative is to enable businesses to take swift climate action by setting ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Targets adopted by companies are considered science-based if they are in line with the Paris Agreement, pursuing to keep global temperature increase below 2°C above pre-industrial levels with further efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.  

More info (link https://sciencebasedtargets.org) 

Additional information:  

Joséphine Mickwitz, EVP, Communications and Sustainability, Fazer Group, tel. +358 400 784 889, josephine.mickwitz@fazer.com

Fazer’s media phone line is open Mon–Fri from 8:00 to 16:00 EET, tel. +358 40 668 2998 

Fazer Group

Fazer, The Food Experience Company, enables people to enjoy the best moments of their day. In 1891, the young Karl Fazer opened his first café with a mission to make food with a purpose – and a passion to create moments of joy for all the people around him. Shaping the next tastes, traditions and food experiences, Fazer’s vision is Towards Perfect Days. Fazer wants people to experience the Northern Magic it creates and builds on its strong heritage, consumer first approach and innovations to create the sustainable food solutions of the future. The Group focuses on fast-moving consumer goods, operates in eight countries and exports to around 40 countries. In 2020, Fazer Group had net sales of 1.1 billion euros and almost 8,500 employees. Fazer’s operations comply with ethical principles that are based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact.

Northern Magic. Made Real.