The Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative has approved the emission reduction targets of Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre-based board and part of the Metsä Group. According to SBT, the targets are in line with the level required to meet the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. The targets, which relate to greenhouse gas emissions from Metsä Board's operations (scope 1 and 2), are consistent with the reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Metsä Board is committed to reducing its absolute greenhouse gas emissions in scope 1 and 2 by 100 per cent by 2030 compared to 2016. Scope 1 covers emissions from the company's own energy production and scope 2 covers purchased energy.
Metsä Board also aims to reduce its emissions in the value chain (scope 3). The company thus also meets the SBT initiative's criteria for ambitious targets in the value chain, in line with current best practices. Metsä Board is committed to reducing its emissions in Scope 3 by aiming for 70 per cent of its non-fibre and downstream transport suppliers (by spend) to set scientifically sound targets by 2024.
"Last year we announced our new, ambitious sustainability targets for 2030. One of these is to stop using fossil fuels in our board mills by 2030 and to completely eliminate fossil CO2 emissions. Now we are making the next big commitment to help reduce the impact of climate change," says Mika Joukio, CEO of Metsä Board.
The Science Based Targets initiative defines and promotes best practice in science-based targeting and independently evaluates companies' targets. Science-based emission reduction targets mean that they meet the latest climate science requirements needed to meet the Paris Accord targets. The SBT Initiative is a collaboration between the CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).