To communicate their ‘Crop to Cup’ campaign and to encourage behaviour change when boiling kettles Pukka released a range of eye-catching communications.
Pukka Herbs
Their journey to becoming the smallest firm in the UK to have an approved science-based target
The Company
Pukka Herbs is an organic herbal tea and supplement company based in the UK. In 2016 Pukka Herbs publicly committed to setting science-based targets (SBTs) through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in addition to its goal to become carbon neutral from crop to cup by 2030.
Recognising Carbon Intelligence’s experience in this area, Pukka appointed us to help set its science-based targets.
Science-Based Targets
Corporations have a clear responsibility in helping the world transition to a low-carbon economy. Science-based targets are the best approach for your company to address this challenge. A greenhouse gas emissions target can be considered ‘science-based’ if the emissions reductions it requires are in line with keeping the global temperature increase well-below 2°C compared to pre-industrial temperature.
Why?
In their 2018 Sustainability Report Pukka outlined their reasons for embarking on the journey to setting a science-based target.
“We did this because we believe that our health and that of the planet are intimately linked. In the cases of man-made deforestation, we are destroying the very ecosystems that nature has designed for cleaning up excess carbon dioxide that is warming our world.”
“This demands serious commitment and bold action from everyone, no matter what size their business. It is no use waiting for governments to
take action, businesses have a responsibility to act as a force for good and now.”
Process/key benefits
In October 2018 Pukka Herbs’ science-based emission targets were approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Pukka Herbs committed to become zero carbon in its own operations, in line with a 1.5C warming scenario or below.
Pukka also committed to reduce Scope 3 emissions from crop to cup by 50% per million units of product by 2030 from a 2017 base-year. To achieve this, Pukka will have a particular focus on engaging with top suppliers and targeting emissions reductions from the boiling of kettles.
01
ENGAGED STAKEHOLDERS
Business case was clear and achieved buy-in across the company
02
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS
Creative solutions to reduce emissions whilst maintaining growth
03
FOCUS ON MATERIAL ISSUES
Scope 3 emissions analysis provided understanding of hotspots
04
LONG-TERM VISION
Developed a clear roadmap to achieve 2030 zero carbon target
Takeaways
Process
Scope 1 & 2 target setting
Carbon Intelligence modeled Scope 1 and 2 science-based targets under both 2C and 1.5C warming scenarios. Carbon Intelligence presented a road map to achieve the 1.5C targets Pukka’s Strategic Sustainability Group which led to achieving sign off for ambitious targets to become zero carbon by 2030.
Scope 3 modelling and target setting
Worked with herbal supply chain experts Soil & More at a by applying expert knowledge of the GHG Protocol Value Chain Guidance to map agricultural emission assessments to Scope 3 categories, we also modelled downstream customer emissions, and finally engaged with Pukka to formulate pragmatic supply chain and customer targets.
Engaging with the SBTi
We supported Pukka through the rigorous SBTi approval process and as the first UK science-based target CDP partner, we’ve
overcome the challenges that companies face and have developed strong relationships with SBTi colleagues
Outcomes
Following the process Pukka’s Strategic Sustainability Group gave approval to adopt the ambitous targets and the company achieved SBTi sign off in October 2018.
The chosen strategy was to set a Scope 1 & 2 target to reduce absolute Scope 1 &2 GHG emissions 100% by 2030 from a 2017 base-year and the company committed to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from crop to cup by 50% per million teabags by 2030 from a 2017 base-year.
The response to Pukka’s science-based target has been extremely positive and shows the rest of the world that smaller companies can take action and lead the charge to fighting climate change.