Kellogg tells suppliers to halve GHG emissions by 2050

By Douglas Yu

- Last updated on GMT

Kellogg pressures its suppliers with new GHG emission reduction goal. Photo: iStock - NicoElNino
Kellogg pressures its suppliers with new GHG emission reduction goal. Photo: iStock - NicoElNino

Related tags Greenhouse gas

Kellogg will work with its suppliers directly for the first time to help reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2050.

Kellogg also plans to cut GHG emissions by 65% across its own operations in the next 35 years.

“Kellogg Company recognizes that upstream agriculture emissions and manufacturing are the largest sources of emissions in the company’s supply chain and is focusing efforts on reductions in these two areas,” ​the company said.

Extension from the 2020 global sustainability goals

Kellogg’s chief sustainability officer, Diane Holdorf, told BakeryandSnacks that one of the 2020 global sustainability goals, announced in 2014, is to expand the company’s commitments in the supply chain by requiring all key suppliers to measure and publicly disclose their own emissions and reduction targets.

The new GHG emission reduction target, Holdorf mentioned, is an extension from the 2020 global sustainability goals.

“To continue reducing emission levels across our entire supply chain, we must work with suppliers, farmers, customers, consumers and governments to develop new solutions and sustainable agriculture practices.”

Engage with suppliers

Kellogg’s suppliers are expected to reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2030, the company said in their Climate Policy Methodology.

A few ways to achieve that goal include continuing supplier education through video training, best practice sharing and communication, acknowledging excellence through supplier awards and recognition, and expanding CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Supply Chain participation, Kellogg said.

However, Kellogg’s media relations said the company is not able to provide a full listing of their suppliers.

How to measure Suppliers’ GHG emission reduction?

Kellogg said a baseline will be set for the company’s tier one suppliers’ GHG emissions, including agricultural emissions, in 2015. However the baseline may adjust over time according to GHG Protocol and the changing supplier base.

“When we are measuring GHG emissions and reductions in our priority ingredients… the calculation will be based off of actual reported yields for engaged growers and combined with emission estimates from academic studies for that crop. Farmer measurement tools, like the Cool Farm Tool, will also be deployed to capture specific emissions from rice production, nitrogen fertilizer application, and on-farm energy use,”​ Kellogg said.

Kellogg refused to disclose what it’s going to do with suppliers that fail to reduce the required amount of GHG emissions. The company’s media relations said, “We do not have any additional information to share.”

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