Pukka Herbs has become only the 13th UK company – and the only UK company of its size – to have its climate goal of being zero carbon by 2030 validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
The company has joined major firms, including Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Coca Cola European Partners, to set independent, rigorously verified targets through the SBTi and while the smallest, it joins other UK-based, global organisations, such as BT, Capgemini and Diageo PLC in the plight to radically reduce climate change.
Pukka has worked with energy performance and carbon management business, Carbon Credentials, to become the first UK company of its size to commit under its targets to reduce direct (scope 1) and indirect (scope 2) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be zero carbon in its buildings and vehicles by 2030. Pukka has also committed to reducing indirect scope 3 emission in its value chain, which are emissions out of a company’s direct control, by 50 per cent from a 2017 baseline.
Pukka will achieve its science-based targets through actions ranging from engaging with suppliers to tackling the emissions caused from boiling kettles – which have the greatest impact (49 per cent) in Pukka’s value chain. Its ‘Smart Boiling’ campaign will encourage people to adopt some simple practices to make a ‘Pukka cuppa’. Boiling only the amount of water you need and switching to renewable energy are just two of the ways it is highlighting to help boil smarter, saving consumers nearly £1m a day in electricity by only boiling what’s needed. Pukka also runs its buildings on renewable electricity while in future all its company vehicles will be electric.
With the help of Carbon Credentials, Pukka has mapped out its carbon footprint, breaking down total carbon output from ‘crop to cup’.
Sebastian Pole, co-founder of Pukka Herbs, commented: “We knew we wanted to set a science-based target back in November 2015 ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, COP 21 so we were committing to reductions in line with what climate scientists are telling us needs to happen. Not just what we think is achievable as a business.
“As the recent IPCC report tells us, there is now a small window of opportunity. Keeping temperature rises to within 1.5 degrees is, quite literally for many, the only way to live. 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.”
