Solar joins one of the world’s most ambitious climate initiatives

The Northern European sourcing and services company Solar, with headquarters in Denmark, now applies for membership of one of the world’s most ambitious sustainability communities, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As a member, Solar commits to reducing their CO2 emissions according to science based targets. In the long run, this is also meant to help Solar’s many customers towards a more sustainable agenda.

The construction industry is responsible for 40% of the world’s CO2 emissions and thus holds a huge potential for reductions. The businesses supplying to the construction industry also hold a considerable joint responsibility when it comes to contributing to the overall reduction. Therefore, the Danish listed sourcing and services company Solar, who supplies materials for professionals within installation and the industrial sector, has applied for membership with the climate initiative the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which includes more than 1,800 companies worldwide.

-We are taking responsibility and believe that clearly defined, binding science based targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions is the way to achieve an actual reduction of our environmental footprint. As part of the value chain in the construction industry, we would like to do our part in changing the industry in general towards a greener direction. That is why it makes sense for us to join SBTi, which is recognized globally as the leading climate initiative, says Mette Bredkjær, Sustainability Director at Solar.

The SBTi is a partnership between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) as well as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is well on its way to becoming the new standard within companies’ climate initiatives. More than 40 Danish companies such as Mærsk, Ørsted, Novo Nordisk and Carlsberg have already joined the initiative. Companies that join SBTi must define targets that support the goal of preventing the global temperature increase of surpassing 1.5 degrees.

-When working with reducing CO2 emissions, it’s important that your own house is in order. So since 2010, we have been working on registering our consumption in all of our locations and make continuous energy improvements. Among other things, these improvements include the installation of solar power cells and heat pumps as well as setting up EV chargers. These are all products and solutions that we bring to the market and provide consultation about. Furthermore, we have digitized and automated our own production, explains Mette Bredkjær and continues;

-The SBTi will increase our knowledge on how we can help our customers reduce their environmental footprint in the best possible way. We will do that in regards to products, services and logistics and by educating our customers in coming up with the best climate and energy solutions as they attend our training unit Solar School.

Now, the application of membership with the climate initiative is being evaluated by the SBTi and Solar expects a positive response within a few weeks.