Trelleborg announced that it is launching a new climate target, “50 by 25”, meaning that the group will reduce its CO2 emissions by 50 % relative to sales by 2025. According to Trelleborg, this is in conjunction with its vision statement to achieve complete climate neutrality, or net zero emissions, in its own operations by the end of 2035.
“We are raising the bar considerably with our new five-year target. Our long-term vision is to become carbon neutral by the end of 2035. We are currently referring to this as a vision, but it will become a target at a later stage,” said Peter Nilsson, President and CEO of Trelleborg. “The group and our operating units are now intensifying their sustainability work. Within the climate area, our operational units are working to develop clear plans for the transition to renewable electricity, while continuing systematic work to become increasingly energy efficient in production and administration,” said Nilsson.
Trelleborg intends to join the Science Based Targets Initiative. The group’s “50 by 25” climate target may therefore be fine-tuned during the five-year period in dialogue with the Science Based Targets Initiative, in accordance with how the conditions change for achieving the 1.5 °C target for society at large. In recent years, Trelleborg has achieved significant reductions in CO2 emissions from its own operations in line with the group’s earlier climate target of “20 by 20”. Accordingly, the next major step is to transition Trelleborg’s global energy supply to renewables, and a new investment programme, said the company.
“We have a clear plan for this work,” said Peter Nilsson. “Trelleborg has proactively worked with sustainability for several years and I am very satisfied that we are taking the next step and a comprehensive approach to the climate issue and our entire sustainability strategy. The environmental and workplace issues in our operations, legal and regulatory compliance as well as local social engagement – the focus areas of our sustainability strategy – will now be applied even more clearly in our units through plans, follow-ups and with the support of employees, in line with our main business.”