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In financial year 2021/22 AT&S voluntarily committed its climate protection targets to the strict guidelines of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In the following year, specific emission reduction targets were submitted and subjected to a diligent review by the SBTi. The SBTi has now concluded that AT&S’s climate targets meet the strict criteria of the Climate Protection Alliance, which means that it is considered scientifically sound that AT&S’s energy strategy is based on the latest findings of climate research.
The Science Based Targets Initiative is an international climate protection alliance consisting of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), World Resources Institute (WIR) and WWF, which promotes ambitious climate protection measures in the private sector. Being recognised by this alliance demonstrates a company’s strong commitment to overall social responsibility and to guaranteeing customers ambitious sustainability standards.
Under the climate targets that have now been confirmed, AT&S pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 38% by 2030 compared with 2021, both from direct emissions within the company and from indirect emissions from energy suppliers. In addition, emissions generated by purchased goods, services and capital goods are reduced by 48 % per euro of value added over the same period.
“With the recognition of our emissions targets by the SBTi, AT&S can announce the achievement of a milestone in the company’s sustainability history,” Marina Hornasek-Metzl, Senior Director ESG at AT&S, is pleased to say and emphasises: “We are aware that this is only the first step. We will continue to drive climate protection in all areas as part of our sustainable growth strategy.”
In order to achieve the ambitious targets by financial year 2030/31, AT&S will optimise energy management for processes and production facilities in its plants and increase the proportion of green energy in purchasing step by step. In order to reduce emissions in the supply chain, AT&S will rely on even stronger cooperation with its suppliers in the future.
The significant reduction of emissions also brings clear economic benefits, as the achievement of these targets is accompanied by savings in energy consumption. Furthermore, the company’s ambitious climate strategy supports the goals of its customers, making their emission reduction targets easier to achieve, which in turn reinforces trust and strengthens the customer relationship.
“As a globally active company, we take our responsibility in the area of climate protection very seriously. To underline this, we have committed ourselves to the targets of the Science Based Targets Initiative. The confirmation of our energy strategy is a significant step on the way to becoming a leading high-tech group also in the area of sustainability,” says CEO Andreas Gerstenmayer.
