CHICAGO — Mondelez International announced today that it is committing to a 2050 target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its full value chain.
As part of its commitment, Mondelez International has signed the Science Based Targets initiative’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C, aligning its long-term emissions mitigation targets with the aim of limiting temperature rise in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement. Mondelez has also joined the United Nations’ “Race to Zero” campaign to help build momentum towards a decarbonized economy. These commitments mark a step forward in the company’s approach to sustainability that is helping drive lasting progress and create long-term value for the business and its stakeholders.
“For the last several years, we’ve worked with the Science Based Targets initiative to reduce our emissions footprint and our announcement today will help accelerate our existing efforts to create a more sustainable snacking company,” said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelez. “We’re transforming how we do business across our operations and with the suppliers and farmers we work with – from seeking to improve cocoa farming practices in West Africa to promoting regenerative agriculture in wheat fields in the Midwestern US.”
This new commitment builds on the company’s existing science-based targets set in 20201 developed to contribute to combatting climate change. Over the next two years, the company will lay out a time-bound plan including interim targets for its key emissions sources consistent with the 1.5°C protocol and will provide annual progress reviews for transparency as laid out by the Science Based Target initiative.
End-to-End Approach to Net Zero Target
Mondelez’s approach to ESG is designed to enable the company to deliver lasting change at scale by prioritizing where it can have the greatest impact, focusing on innovative and measurable solutions, and collaborating to drive sector-wide transformation. The company will take an end-to-end approach to reach its net zero emissions target by focusing efforts across key areas and delivering against its existing goals and targets:
Sustainably Sourced Ingredients and Packaging:
- Source 100% cocoa volume for chocolate brands through Cocoa Life Program by 2025
- Source 100% wheat volume for EU biscuits through the Harmony Program by 2022
- Design 100% of packaging to be recycle ready by 2025
- Reduce overall virgin plastic use by 5% and reduce overall virgin rigid plastic by 25% by 2025
Mondelez International Operations:
- Continue to convert global manufacturing electricity footprint to renewable energy
- Reduce food waste by 15% in manufacturing and 50% in distribution by 2025
- Work toward achieving energy efficiency for biscuit ovens and steam boilers
- Start replacing thermal fuels (e.g., natural gas, diesel, gasoline) with “green” alternatives
Logistics:
- Invest in new mobility concepts including electric and hydrogen trucks
- Reduce warehouse emissions at both owned and third-party facilities by converting to renewable energy sources
- Improve efficiency of distribution networks by optimizing routes, improving truck & container utilization, increasing intermodal solutions and reducing traveled distances
“While we’ve already made significant progress, the road to net zero will require further transformation of our business as well as global collaboration across industries, sectors and landscapes,” said Chris McGrath, VP and chief of global impact and sustainability. “We will remain focused on leveraging proven models and available solutions, while at the same time using our scale and influence to help drive technical advancement, public-private collaboration and investment to incubate innovation.”
In the past year, the company made significant progress against, and exceeded many, of its existing 2020 and 2025 targets, including having 68% of cocoa volume for chocolate brands sourced through Cocoa Life Program and 99% palm oil sourced from suppliers aligned to the company’s 2020 Palm Oil Action Plan.
It has also achieved a 24% reduction in CO2 emissions from manufacturing, exceeding the target of 15%; a 33% reduction in priority water usage, exceeding the target of 10%; and a 31% reduction in total waste from manufacturing, exceeding the target of 20%.
More information on Mondelez’s sustainability strategies can be found in its 2020 Snacking Made Right Report.
