TARGET 1
Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 21%, by 2025.
Pfleiderer is committed to the Paris Agreement on limiting global warming to 1.5°C. We have set ambitious short and medium-term emissions reduction targets. Achieving these will successfully transition Pfleiderer towards being a net zero carbon business. Our target to reduce CO2e emissions by 2025 is science-based and has been audited by ISS8: we are working to evolve our targets in line with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)9.
We use both thermal energy and electricity. On average, 84% of our energy is fuelled by biomass. Energy is generated on five sites, two of which use conventional boilers. The cogenerated electrical and thermal10 energy at our CHP plants is highly efficient and fuelled mainly by biomass except for re-starts after a shut-down when fuel oil is used.
We purchase 11% of our electricity requirements from energy utility companies, and we use a small amount of natural gas for certain processes, and as a back-up supply.
We have reduced CO2 emissions in our three CHP plants by 26% since 2013. Where we find Scope 1 or Scope 2 carbon emissions11 that we are unable to eliminate, we use high quality offsets via the EU Emissions Trading Scheme allowances, or fund green hydrogen power projects at various locations.
In addition, we are committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions; for example, we will further reduce our CO2 emissions from waste management, wastewater treatment, consumed materials, and business travel
8 ISS ESG provided a second party audit in March 2021 that affirms the sustainability credibility of our carbon metric, and our alignment with recognized sustainable finance principles. ISS ESG is one of the world’s leading independent sustainability research, analysis and rating firms.
9 The target was set following engagement with the SBTi and is informed by decarbonisation pathways applicable to the furniture and fittings sector, as well as the SBTi Absolute
Contraction approach pathway. See sciencebasedtargets.org
10 No cooling is produced in the process.
11 For definitions on the Scopes, please refer to https://ghgprotocol.org/calculationg-tools-faq
Our performance and target
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Target 2022 | Target 2025 | |
| Carbon footprint (tCO2e) | 270,631 | 238,492 | 220,164 | 171,969 | 201,670 | 173,929 |
| % decrease (on 2020 baseline) | -21.9% | -8.4% | -21.0% |
“We have a strong trackrecord on reducing CO2 emissions, we are working towards setting targets that align with the SBTi, and we are expanding how we account for and reduce our Scope 3 emissions.”
Dr. Axel Knörr
Head of Environment
WE HAVE SET AMBITIOUS SHORT AND MEDIUM-TERM EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS. ACHIEVING THESE WILL SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION PFLEIDERER TOWARDS BEING A NET ZERO CARBON BUSINESS9.
Case Study
Three sites, three high-efficiency CHP plants
100% of the energy produced at our CHP plants comes from biomass. On three of our key sites, we use an integrated combined heat and power (CHP) plant that provides simultaneous generation of mechanical energy for electricity and usable heat for production processes. Combined heat and power generation allows fuel savings of up to one third of the primary energy, compared to the separate generation of electricity and heat. The advantage of cogeneration is reduced fuel requirement and lower emissions.
100%
Biomass fuels 100% of energy produced at our CHP plants
Case Study
Planning for success
All Pfleiderer sites are certified to the ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard. Energy planning is carried out in coordination with the distribution, production and purchasing teams and is updated frequently.
Our planning accounts for forwardlooking business assessments and actual consumption. Based on energy data collected at all our sites, we regularly assess and analyse the usage and consumption of energy, creating energy registers to identify improvements.
TARGET 2
Reduce the indirect greenhouse gas emissions intensity relating to purchased chemical products used in our wood-based panels by 21%, by 2025.
At the core of Pfleiderer’s operating model is the cascading system of wood recycling. Wood stores carbon dioxide even after the tree has been harvested, so when we use post-consumer recycled wood, such as old pallets or furniture, the carbon efficiency of the business is strengthened even further.
In a more forensic analysis of the life-cycle of our wood-based panel products we identify carbon-saving actions that have the greatest impact. We are therefore looking into ‘indirect emissions’ relating to the manufacture of relatively carbon-intensive chemical products such as glues, resins, and fire retardants. As of mid-2021 we have completed preliminary studies of indirect emissions across all product categories to provide formal emission inventories in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard12. From them we can generate metrics that will strengthen our reporting on our product carbon footprint.
This innovation delivers new enhancements in product quality and sustainability, going beyond our existing goal of using more post-consumer recycled wood. The target is about reducing the carbon footprint of wood-based panels by focusing on emissions – known as Scope 3 emissions – relating to the manufacture of chemical ingredients. The target aligns with our Materials targets in the previous section, as well as our commitment to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
An independent assessment of our Scope 3 emissions has been carried out. Of these, the significant majority are associated with our purchased chemical products. The materials within the scope of this target are glues, titanium dioxide, urea, paraffin, fire retardants, resins, paints, and other hot-melt products.
Our Performance Target
| Scope 3 emissions intensity reduction - purchased chemical products | Target 2022 | Target 2025 |
| Percentage decrease in greenhouse gas emissions relating to purchased chemical products used in wood-based panels13, expressed on a per cubic metre shipped volume basis (2020 baseline) | 12% | 21% |
12 These categories of emission are covered by the GHG Protocol Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions (v1.0) by the Carbon Trust and WRI, p7-8; https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard.
13 Raw Chipboard (RCB), MDF and HDF which represent the majority of our business.
Read more about sustainability at Pfleiderer
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