[GRI 305-5; ESRS E1-1, E1-2, E1-3, E1-4]
Lenzing continously works on the implementation of its ambitious science-based target (SBT), which was approved in November 2019. The following section provides information about the implementation in a few key areas.
In line with the Paris Agreement and the UN SDG 13, the Lenzing Group set an ambitious science-based target for reducing CO2 emissions (scope 1, 2 & 3) by 50 percent per ton of fiber and pulp sold by 2030 (baseline 2017). Lenzing also aims to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 (scope 1, 2 & 3).
The targets have been scientifically verified and approved by the Science Based Target initiative, making Lenzing the first wood-based cellulosic fiber producer to have an approved science-based target. Since the target is science-based, Lenzing’s approach to combating climate change is considered to be in line with the Paris Agreement. Lenzing’s decarbonization strategy is therefore based on reducing its emissions, rather than offsetting them, e.g. compensating for CO2 emissions elsewhere.
HIGHLIGHTS in 2022
- Decarbonization as one major sustainability target in the new corporate strategy (Better Growth)
- Start up of Scope 1+2 carbon-neutral 90,000 tonnes Lyocell prodcuton plant in Prachinburi (Thailand)
- Pulp mill in Indianópolis (Brazil) is the largest of its kind. Due to the plant’s excess bioenergy, it provides electricity to Brazilian grid, thus replacing gas based energy and grid electricity
- Production site-level roadmaps towards net-zero emissions were updated
- Supplier engagement continued with key chemicals suppliers – Purchase of low-carbon caustic soda from one supplier and continued engagement with others
- Two new textile fiber products, LENZING™ FR and TENCEL™ Modal Micro, were launched within carbon-zero portfolio. VEOCEL™ Climate care added Mobile (Alabama) to its portfolio
- In 2022, two additional production sites with renewable grid electricity– Purwakarta (Indonesia) 100 percent from July 2022 and Nanjing (China) partly in 2022 (100 percent planned in 2023)
- Lenzing put Upper Austria’s largest ground-mounted photovoltaic plant in operation with an output of 5.5 MWpeak in cooperation with Verbund. Additionally three roof-top PV-plants were installed leading to a total PV capacity installed of 7.0 MWpeak in Lenzing (Austria)
- Sing-off of a 5.5 MWpeak Photovoltaic Power Purches Agreement (PV-PPA) with Energie Steiermark and Enery. The PV-plant will be built in Styria and supply electricity to Lenzing (Austria) with Q4 2023
- Lenzing has again achieved the top CDP climate score of ‘A’
- Lenzing published its first Climate Action Plan
Science Based Target initiative (SBTi)
The Paris Agreement was adopted by consensus at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015. The agreement’s aim is to combat climate change by keeping the increase in global temperatures compared to pre-industrial levels well below 1.5 degrees Celsius this century
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its Report in 2022 giving more clarity on the carbon reductions required to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. According to this report, global net-zero CO2 emissions will be reached in the early 2050s in pathways that limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and it is in the early 2070s in pathways that limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius.
The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The initiative defines and promotes best practices in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets for consistency with the level of decarbonization required according to the latest science to keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.