JTI UK has announced its commitment to achieving net zero emissions within the next decade – 20 years ahead of the government’s current 2050 deadline.
The tobacco manufacturer’s new Environmental Plan focuses on five key areas: emissions, energy, waste, water and stakeholder engagement, and forms part of JTI’s global sustainability strategy.
JTI UK has committed to reducing emissions by 80% and becoming carbon net zero, all by 2030. It will achieve this through various initiatives, including transitioning its fleet of vehicles to electric by the start of the next decade.
The company also aims to be using 100% renewable energy by 2025 – saving 675 tonnes of CO2e per year – and plans to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2030.
Within the next three years, 100% of JTI’s on-site waste will be diverted from landfill helping to avoid 37.1 tonnes of landfill waste each year. By the end of the decade, JTI UK will reduce its general waste by 20% and increase recycling rates to 75%. It will also work with its direct suppliers to source more sustainable, recyclable and reused materials.
It is also investing in water efficiency measures to reduce water usage across its UK sites.
To help employees drive its environmental agenda forward, JTI has created a new UK Task Force comprising of leaders from every part of the company. It will also work with suppliers to source goods and services with increased sustainability credentials. As of 2021, all UK Procurement Tenders will include sustainability criteria to help further improve the social and environmental impact of JTI UK’s supplier operations.
Commenting on the pledge, Ruth Forbes, Head of Responsible Business Projects, JTI UK, said: “We will be working closely with all our employees, suppliers, and retail & wholesale customers across 2021 and beyond to make this a reality.
“It has never been so important for companies to think and act more sustainably, not just for the good of the industry, but for society. It is time for us to do loads more with tonnes less.”
