Berry Commits to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions Across its Global Operations and Value Chain by 2050

By: Berry Global Group, Inc. via Business Wire

June 29, 2023 at 09:00 AM EDT

Emissions reduction strategies focus on circular plastics, value-chain engagement, and cleaner energy

As the company makes progress on its short-term, science-based climate targets, Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY) today commits to achieving net-zero emissions across its global operations and value chain by 2050. The company aims to reduce its total Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions over 90% and neutralize its remaining residual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Meeting these goals helps ensure Berry is aligned with a 1.5°C warming scenario and supports the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to well-below 2°C.

“Reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is critical to avoiding the most catastrophic environmental, social, and economic impacts of climate change,” said Tom Salmon, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Berry Global. “As a global plastic packaging leader, we have a responsibility to protect the environment by minimizing the impact of our products, operations, and value chain as well as our business by limiting the exposure of our operations and supply chain to climate risk.”

Achieving net-zero GHG emissions will require a range of solutions across Berry’s broad geographic footprint and diverse portfolio of converting and decorating technologies. Emissions reduction strategies primarily fall under three categories:

Circular plastics: drive circularity and reduce GHG emissions by moving away from virgin, fossil fuel-based plastic and using lighter weight, less carbon-intensive, circular materials, including recycled plastics and bio-based plastics made from renewable resources, like used cooking oil
Value-chain engagement: because most of the company’s value-chain emissions come from purchased goods and services, work with customers to develop lower-carbon solutions and suppliers to provide lower-carbon materials and services
Cleaner energy: increase investment in renewable energy to decrease use of fossil fuels, minimize the environmental impact of energy sources vital to manufacturing, continually improve energy efficiency to reduce overall energy dependence, and take steps to electrify processes within operations that consume gas and fuel

Compared to a 2019 baseline, Berry’s climate targets – validated by the Science Based Targets initiative – aim to reduce operational Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 25% and absolute supply-chain Scope 3 GHG emissions 25% by 2025. To date, the company has reduced Scope 3 GHG emissions from its supply chain by 9% and Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by an impressive 21%, expecting to achieve its science-based target of a 25% reduction from 2019 prior to its 2025 goal.

Learn more about Berry’s climate commitments and progress in its 2022 Impact Report.

About Berry

At Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY), we create packaging and engineered products that we believe make life better for people and the planet. We do this every day by leveraging our unmatched global capabilities, sustainability leadership, and deep innovation expertise to serve customers of all sizes around the world. Harnessing the strength in our diversity and industry leading talent of 46,000 global employees across more than 265 locations, we partner with customers to develop, design, and manufacture innovative products with an eye toward the circular economy. For more information, visit our website, or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.