Target sets new goal for company and supply chain.
Target announced a new reduction goal for itself and its entire supply chain on March 27, 2019. The company plans to reduce its absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent below 2017 levels by 2030. Target is also committing that 80 percent of its suppliers will set science-based reduction targets on their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2023. Currently, the company estimates 96 percent of GHG emissions related to its business comes from its supply chain.
“Our new climate goals will reduce our carbon footprint from source to shelf, as we work alongside our partners within our supply chain to lower emissions and help create a better tomorrow,” said Brian Cornell, Chairman and CEO, in a company statement. “We have a responsibility to our guests and the environment to set high expectations and encourage ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, promoting positive change throughout the industry to have an even greater impact for generations to come.”
The announcement from the company noted, “The key will be unifying our suppliers around these same goals, whether they’re working with the raw materials that create our products, or they’re manufacturing and transporting those products to our shelves.”
To reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Target plans to ramp up investments in renewable energy and energy saving efforts across its business. Among its efforts to date are the installation of LED lights in its buildings, a Texas wind power project that offsets the electricity use of 60 area stores, and the addition of solar rooftop panels at 500 locations by 2020. For more information, read “Going Solar.”
