Kepak Secures SBTi Approval, Sets Sights on Net-Zero by 2050
Kepak Group has reached a major milestone on its sustainability journey, with formal approval of its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This approval confirms Kepak’s emissions-reduction goals align with the 1.5°C trajectory set by the Paris Agreement – the most ambitious pathway for limiting global warming.
Key targets include:
- 🔹A 52.3% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 – equivalent to eliminating the annual emissions of more than 15,000 homes
- 🔹Net-zero emissions across the entire value chain by 2050
Kepak now stands among a select group of global food companies – including McDonald’s, Tesco and Aldi – with approved science-based targets.
“Our targets are not just numbers – they represent measurable, impactful action,” said Rebecca Thomson, Head of Sustainability at Kepak. “This is a proud moment for the entire team, and it’s just the beginning of what we aim to achieve.”
Proven Progress: What We’ve Achieved So Far
Between 2018 and 2024, Kepak has already made meaningful strides in reducing emissions and improving efficiency across its operations and supply chain:
- 🔹40% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions – Equivalent to removing over 21,000 petrol cars from the road for a year
- 🔹8% reduction in livestock emissions intensity (Scope 3) – Comparable to the carbon capture of nearly 300,000 mature trees over one year
- 🔹29% reduction in water use per tonne of product – Saving enough water annually to fill over 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools
- 🔹22% increase in regenerative agriculture practices – Supporting healthier soils and biodiversity across beef farms in Ireland and the UK
“Kepak is leading by example,” said Tiphaine Aires, Associate Director at the Carbon Trust. “The team’s work demonstrates the vital role of processors in driving farm-level decarbonisation and building a more sustainable food system.”
Targets: What We’re Working Toward
By 2030:
- 🔹52.3% absolute reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions
- 🔹50.4% reduction in Scope 3 (non-agriculture) – Equivalent to removing over 25,000 petrol cars from the road each year
- 🔹36.37% reduction in agricultural emissions (FLAG) – With zero deforestation across supply chains by 2025
By 2050:
- 🔹90% reduction across total Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
- 🔹Net-zero across the entire value chain
To reach these goals, Kepak is:
- 🔹Expanding wind, solar, and anaerobic digestion capacity
- 🔹Rolling out heat pumps across more sites
- 🔹Deep retrofitting for energy efficiency
- 🔹Investing in farm-level carbon reduction initiatives