Addressing Climate Change and Reducing our Environmental Footprint
Caring for the environment has long been part of our legacy. Our journey to setting science-based targets began in 2019. We are proud to be among the companies committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) by setting a target to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint aligned with the 1.5°C temperature pathways, the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process. We’ll do so across three core areas to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than 50 percent and absolute Scope 3 emissions by 25 percent by 2030, compared to a 2018 baseline.1
Renewable Energy
Investing in renewable energy is key to reaching our Scope 1 and Scope 2 commitments. Two power purchase agreements (PPAs) enable the construction of two new utility-scale solar farms. We’re also pursuing other energy efficiency projects around the world. To drive this commitment, each Hershey location around the world has designated an Energy Champion responsible for implementing carbon savings, meeting conservation goals, identifying opportunities for energy reduction and efficiency and engaging employees in these efforts.
Advancing Sustainable Packaging Solutions
In 2015, we committed to reducing packaging weight by 25 million pounds by 2025. We’re proud to say we’ve achieved this goal and have set a new goal of a reduction of an additional 25 million pounds by 2030. We’re also aiming to make 100 percent of our plastic packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2030.
Ending Deforestation
We are committed to ending deforestation across our supply chain by 2030 by working within our individual commodity supply chains to drive sustainable practices within our own operations, with our suppliers and within the industry to eliminate deforestation. Read more about this commodity-specific approach to ending deforestation.
To read the announcement and to learn more about our goals, please visit our Newsroom.
Feature Story
Promises Made, Promises Kept
We take our commitments seriously. Not just members of our Sustainability team, but all Hershey employees. We’ve set ambitious targets; targets that will require action from every person working at The Hershey Company.
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1 Scope 1: Direct GHG emissions occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the company. Scope 2: Indirect greenhouse gas emissions from consumption of purchased electricity, heat or steam. Scope 3: Other indirect emissions, such as the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels, transport-related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity, electricity-related activities not covered in Scope 2, outsourced activities, waste disposal, etc.
