SanMar Corporation, a supplier of wholesale accessories and apparel, announced the approval of its science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with climate science.
In partnership with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), SanMar has set a companywide target to meet the SBTi’s most ambitious temperature pathway to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and help prevent the worst impacts of climate change. SanMar’s approved target sets carbon emission reduction goals for both its Scope 1 and 2, and Scope 3 GHG emissions.
The company committed to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50 percent per pound of product by 2030 from a 2019 base year. SanMar also committed to reduce Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services 50 percent per pound of product within the same timeframe.
“Establishing audacious science-based targets is a landmark moment for SanMar and our industry,” said Emily Gigot, senior manager of sustainability at SanMar. “Collectively, we must all do our part to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and this framework provides us with a roadmap to reduce our emissions in line with climate science.”
For SanMar and most of the apparel and textile industry, the largest share of emissions results from the manufacturing of products. As a result, many of the company’s initiatives to reach emissions targets will focus on reducing the environmental impact of its products and engaging with suppliers to decrease the impact of their operations, with an emphasis on efficient machinery, processes and renewable energy.
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The SBTi is a GHG emissions reduction program that supports companies through a five-step process to create tangible goals and establish pathways to reduce emissions by an amount and timetable right-sized for the organization. Targets are consistent with the level of decarbonization that, according to climate science, is required to keep global temperate increase within 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial temperature levels.
The SBTi is a partnership between the CDC (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
SanMar Corporation is one of the largest suppliers of wholesale imprintable clothing and accessories in the United States. Based in Issaquah, Wash., the family-owned and operated company has eight distribution centers nationwide.