In order to comply with the Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5˚C, food companies are required to halve their Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Many big names in the industry have pledged their commitment, including the likes of Danone, JBS, Kellogg, and Kraft Heinz.
The latest company to join the cause is Cereal Partners Worldwide (CPW), the producer of Nestlé Breakfast Cereals. Although the company has demonstrated sustainability practices for many years, it recently announced its plan to halve its GHG emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
As the first step, CPW evaluated its carbon footprint across its global network with the help of external consultant Quantis, which conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of emissions across the company’s business. The audit found that CPW emitted 1.2 million metric tons of GHG emissions in 2018, which will serve as the baseline for measuring progress.
CPW’s roadmap for reaching net zero emissions focuses on five key areas: sourcing ingredients, transforming the product portfolio, evolving packaging, achieving cleaner operations, and driving cleaner logistics.
The sourcing of ingredients contributes to most of CPW’s GHG emissions, hence sustainable sourcing is the company’s top priority. CPW is moving towards regenerative agriculture, which aims to improve soil health and soil fertility, protect and restore water resources and biodiversity. CPW aims that by 2025, 13% of its cereals will come from regenerative agricultural practices, and by 2030, this number will increase to 50%.
CPW aims to achieve 100% deforestation-free ingredients, from palm oil to pulp and paper, and cocoa. The company has already achieved 97% deforestation-free palm oil and 85% certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). CPW is also working to reduce its impact in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by relying on renewable energy sources, reducing waste, and evolving the packaging of its products.
CPW’s net zero ambitions align completely with its parent companies’ ambitions, Nestlé and General Mills. The latest targets rely on close collaboration and cooperation with all partners.
