During 2022, lightweight packaging producer Ecolean made important steps towards climate action and the Paris Agreement through its science-based targets. Since 2018, Ecolean has reduced its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 92%, from already low levels.
“We already produce our packaging solutions with as little raw materials and energy as possible, and source 100% renewable electricity in all our production sites globally,” explains Anna Palminger, Chief Sustainability Director. “During 2022, we also reduced our transport-related carbon emissions by 56% compared to the previous year.”
As its second-largest source of emissions, Ecolean’s transports account for 11% of its total footprint and by 2030, the company has committed to have all goods transported by either sea or land, completely phasing out air freight. In 2022, the 56% reduction in transport-related carbon emissions was the result of transporting 99.56% of all the company’s products by land or sea.
In 2022, Ecolean purchased all the electricity for all its production sites in Sweden, Pakistan and China from renewable sources for the third year in a row. This is significant as electricity accounted for 95% of the company’s total energy use during the year. Globally, the proportion of total renewable energy used in Ecolean’s lean operations – including biogas for production heating processes at Ecolean’s Helsingborg plant – remained at 96%.
“Drawing on renewable energy is an important part of our efforts to achieve our target to halve our scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 2018,” says Anna Palminger.
Ambitious 2030 targets drive sustainability
Since Ecolean was founded, the idea of using minimal raw materials and saving nature’s resources has been incorporated throughout the company’s operations and is the basis for its unique packaging system. “However only reducing the company’s impact is not enough when considering enormous global challenges such as climate change,” observes Anna Palminger. “Ecolean has committed to a series of 2030 targets to ensure that its sustainability ambitions are aligned with future societal needs and regulatory requirements.”
The Sustainability Roadmap 2030 involves Ecolean switching raw material sources to more sustainable ones, using science-based targets to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, partnering to improve recycling infrastructure in all their markets, and promoting a fair, equal and inclusive workplace.
Caption:
Anna Palminger, Chief Sustainability Director, Ecolean
