Ontex, a Belgium-based provider of personal hygiene products and services, has announced that the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTI) has approved its climate action targets. SBTI is a collaboration between the United Nations Global Compact, the World-Wide Fund for Nature, the World Resources Institute and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

SBTI confirms that the Ontex climate targets are consistent with the latest climate science needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and continuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C, Ontex said in a press release.

Ontex will reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions (absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions) by 80 per cent by 2030 compared to a 2020 baseline. Ontex also commits to increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 75 per cent in 2020 to 100 per cent by 2030. In addition to the SBTI-approved target, Ontex aims to achieve zero emissions by 2030 by offsetting the remaining emissions from its operations.

Ontex also commits to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution, and disposal of used products by 25 per cent from a 2020 baseline by 2030 (absolute Scope 3 emissions). Ontex aims to reduce carbon emissions in its supply chain by working with its suppliers and focusing on sustainable product design and more efficient transportation.

Ontex is committed to keeping global warming below 1.5°C through energy savings, on-site renewable energy generation, purchasing energy from renewable sources and offsetting carbon emissions through reforestation projects. Through energy savings and other measures, Ontex has already reduced its own carbon emissions (Scope 1-2 emissions) by 40 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020. About 91 per cent of the electricity Ontex uses to power 18 factories on 5 continents comes from renewable sources. This includes in-house power generation with rooftop solar installations in Spain, Belgium and Mexico, as well as a new solar installation in Italy, the largest solar installation in the country for on-site power consumption. Ontex is also committed to reducing the impact of emissions caused by the incineration of used diapers and is implementing compostability projects for its diaper pads.

“By aiming for carbon neutral operations in eight years, we want to contribute to keeping global warming under control. Achieving our climate goals is essential to our long-term business success and aligns with our corporate purpose,” Esther Berrozpe, CEO of Ontex, said in a statement.

“Ontex will have more opportunities to innovate and become more competitive in an economy that is moving ever faster to zero carbon, especially in our core markets,” Annick De Poorter, executive vice president innovation and sustainability at Ontex, said.