Essentra commits to decarbonisation

In 2022, Essentra PLC reported considerable progress in reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reducing its scope one and scope two emissions by 27% from 2019. This prompted Essentra to set new targets, not only for scopes one and two, but also for scope three to cover emissions across the entire value chain for the first time. The results have once again been impressive, suggesting our emissions for scope three emissions have fallen by a third since 2022.  

While this scope three figure needs to be read with a note of caution, not least because the spend-based model initially used to calculate emissions has since been changed, progress is still in a positive direction. Comparing like-for-like percentages may be difficult, but we know for certain we are on the right track, asserts Spence.

Calculating scope three emissions relies on quality data, and a gold standard to measure progress against. And in terms of further improving data, Essentra has made significant advances in recent months.  

In transportation, the company has started to implement a new software that’s allowing calculation of carbon emissions per shipment, something the company has not been able to do with such accuracy before and something that is also helping to bring Essentra's supply chain partners along with us on the journey.

In materials, Essentra has steadily moved away from fossil fuel polymers to materials that are more sustainable, using materials that themselves feature more recycled content, and  exploring the greater use of biomaterials that are being developed and tested within the company's recently opened centre of excellence. Essentra can measure and reduce the kilograms of carbon for every polymer it buys, and has a much better grasp of the material’s end of life and how that also contributes to overall emissions.

The most significant development in recent weeks, and one which the company believes is crucial going forward, is the validation of future targets based on science. Being one of only a handful of manufacturers in its sector who has signed up to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), Essentra's scope one, two and three target ambitions have been validated and approved by the SBTi in line with a 1.5° trajectory.  

In the language used by the SBTi itself, Essentra has committed to reach net-zero GHG emissions across its value chain by 2050. In the near term, this means committing to reducing absolute scope one and two GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year. Essentra also commits to reduce scope three GHG emissions from purchased goods and services and upstream transportation and distribution, by 55% per GBP of value added by 2030 from a 2022 base year.

Longer term, Essentra has committed to reaching net-zero by 2050, and this means reducing scope one and two GHG emissions by 90% by 2040, and reducing scope three emissions by 90% by 2050. 

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