P&G has partnered with environmental organization The World Wildlife Fund, in a strategy that plans to make the most of scientific advances and technology to help cut back greenhouse emissions that have been shown to impact climate change.
In a related move, P&G executives have also signed up to the WWF’s Climate Savers Program, which aims to forge collaboration with larger multinational companies in an effort to address climate change.
Global warming predictions look scary
The company says that the latest target for reducing its carbon footprint was triggered by the latest scientific evidence presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
As part of the panel’s fifth assessment report, published last year, one of its working group recently updated the findings by suggesting that without further action, the global mean temperature could rise by 3.1 to 4.4 °C by 2100, suggesting serious repercussions for the earth’s already threatened eco system.
P&G executives believe that by cutting greenhouse emissions by 2030 by 30%, the company is making a significant contribution to counteracting this predicted climate change if global warming is not tackled.
Global issue but everyone plays a part
“Climate change is a global issue and we believe everyone – companies, governments, and individuals – all have a role to play,” said Len Sauers, vice president, global sustainability for P&G.
“We felt it was important to come forward with an ambitious, science-based goal to help do our part to address the challenges that climate change poses.”
The company says that the cut in emissions will be achieved by maintaining its focus on energy conservation and increasing its use of renewable energy, which will as well as driving cuts in emissions, are also expected to cut costs for the company.
Consumers want green products
As well as pressure from environmentalists, P&G is also answering calls from consumers to give them greener products. In this area one of the biggest moves has been a gradual switch to sustainably sourced palm oil, and the company is still aiming to hits a target of 100% by 2020.
Earlier this year the company also raised the game further by joining the US plastic wrap recycling group, Flexible Film Recycling Group, in an effort to cut back on consumer packaging waste.
Although flexible film is ubiquitous in consumer products, the type of film that is used and certain labeling processes can render it difficult to recycle.