The trailer and bodywork manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull AG has received official validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) of its short- and long-term climate targets. In doing so the SBTi confirms that the company's submitted emissions reduction targets meet the current scientific standards and are compatible with the Paris Agreement's goal to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Schmitz Cargobull aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions along the value chain
The company commits to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions along the entire value chain by fiscal year 2044/45. To implement this long-term goal, Schmitz Cargobull plans in a first step to reduce the absolute emissions of Scopes 1 and 2 — i.e., direct emissions from own sources and indirect emissions from purchased energy — by 90 percent by
fiscal year 2029/30 compared with the base year 2021/22.
For Scope 3, which includes emissions from upstream and downstream supply chains among others, a reduction of 35 percent is planned by fiscal year 2034/35. In the further course, Scope 3 emissions are also to be reduced by 90 percent by 2044/45.
In addition, the company commits to permanently maintaining a reduction of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions of at least 90 percent between fiscal years 2029/30 and 2044/45. The emission reduction targets also include country-related emissions as well as removals through bioenergy feedstocks.
SBTi validation verifies Schmitz Cargobull's targets and measures
The validation by the SBTi includes a detailed review of Schmitz Cargobull's objectives and measures. It demonstrates that the company's plans are in line with the initiative's current standards.
“Our goal is to
align our economic activity and our products for a sustainable transport sector with climate protection,” said Dr. Günter Schweitzer, Chief Operations Officer of Schmitz Cargobull AG.
The company emphasizes that it relies on market-based incentives and fair CO₂ pricing, rather than on distortive subsidies.
Decarbonized cold chain, low-emission materials, optimized transport logistics
The measures to reduce emissions include among other things the decarbonization of the cold chain, the use of low-emission materials and the optimization of the company’s own transport logistics. These activities are part of Schmitz Cargobull's sustainability strategy, which focuses on three central areas of action: Products & Services, Environment and People. For each of these areas, concrete targets, milestones and operational measures have been defined to be implemented at all company locations.
What is the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)?
The Science
Based Targets initiative is a global initiative that helps companies develop and implement scientifically based climate targets. It was founded jointly by four organizations: the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The initiative aims to ensure that the targets for reducing emissions are in line with the current state of climate science and thus contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement's goals.
The SBTi reviews and validates company-specific target specifications using clearly defined criteria and standards. The focus is on reducing absolute greenhouse gas emissions along the entire value chain. With validation by the SBTi, companies receive internationally recognized confirmation of their climate protection strategy, which increases transparency to stakeholders and strengthens the credibility of their commitment to climate protection.
