SBTi Confirms SCHOTT’s Ambitious Carbon Reduction Plans

Ensuring that a scientific approach is taken is important to SCHOTT as a research-driven technology group and this also applies to climate protection. That is why the company has had itself validated by the independent Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). This is considered the “Gold Standard” for ambitious, science-driven corporate decarbonization programs.

The intensive review confirmed that SCHOTT’s targets are in line with the current state of climate science. Through its commitment, the technology Group is helping to limit global warming to 1.5°C and meeting the requirements of the Paris Agreement. With this confirmation by the SBTi, SCHOTT reaffirms its ambitious commitment to sustainable development as a key part of its company strategy.

The company has made the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions in its own production a focus of its sustainable company transformation since 2020. As part of its “Zero Carbon Program,” SCHOTT has established four fields of action to reduce CO2 emissions.

Since 2019, the company has already been able to significantly reduce emissions by switching to green electricity and continuously increasing energy efficiency. The experts are now working on new technological ways to melt glass in its melting tanks using green energy sources.

“Limiting global warming is a global task that we as a society can only accomplish together,” said Dr. Jens Schulte, CFO of SCHOTT AG and responsible for the “Zero Carbon” strategy program. “This also includes close cooperation with our suppliers. Our transformation is challenging, but absolutely necessary. Ambitious corporate climate targets not only promote environmental protection, but also innovation and competitiveness.”

In order to develop reduction targets with its suppliers, SCHOTT is therefore also taking a look at greenhouse gas emissions along its value chain.

For the first time, the company has determined the dimension of its Scope 3 emissions. In order to establish comparability in terms of their climate impact, SCHOTT reports greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalents (CO2e). In the base year 2019, emissions in the value chain amounted to around 1.3 million tons of CO2e. By comparison: Scope 1&2 emissions in 2019 were around 1 million tons of CO2e. Overall, SCHOTT’s emissions across all scopes thus amounted to around 2.3 million tons of CO2e.

With the review by the SBTi, the technology Group is intensifying its commitment, especially with regard to the value chain. The SBTi has approved the targets for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 following a detailed review process – and thus also confirms SCHOTT’s claim to align its actions with the current state of climate science.

• SCHOTT AG commits to reducing its absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 46.2% by fiscal year 2030, from a base year of fiscal year 2019.
• SCHOTT AG is also seeking to reduce its absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy-related activities and investments by 27.5% within the same period of time.
• In addition, SCHOTT AG is undertaking to ensure that 74.23% of the emissions
of selected Scope 3 categories are covered by scientific reduction targets via the respective suppliers by 2027. These three selected Scope 3 categories are goods and services purchased, capital goods and upstream transportation and distribution.

“We want our goals to be based on a science-based approach,” said Anja Schlosser, who coordinates the Zero Carbon Program at SCHOTT. “The confirmation of our reduction target until 2030 by an independent and recognized body underscores our ambitious strategy. This also means that we will develop solutions also together with our suppliers.”