As we speak, The Wendy’s Firm introduced near-term, science-based targets to scale back Scope 1, 2 and three greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions by 47% by 2030 throughout its international System. The objectives, which had been just lately accepted by the Science Based mostly Targets initiative (SBTi), underscore Wendy’s dedication to transparency and mitigating its local weather affect.
Wendy’s Close to-Time period Science-Based mostly Targets
In comparison with a 2019 base yr, by 2030, Wendy’s objective is to scale back:
- Absolute Scope 1 and a couple of GHG emissions by 47%
- Scope 3 GHG emissions depth by 47% per metric ton of bought items
- Scope 3 GHG emissions depth by 47% per franchise restaurant
To make these significant cuts, Wendy’s will work all through its System, together with Firm operations, and cooperatively with franchisees and suppliers, to show dedication into motion. Wendy’s estimates that reaching the objective would keep away from roughly 7.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equal in comparison with enterprise as typical, which is the same as eradicating greater than 1.5 million gas-powered autos from the highway in a single yr.
“We acknowledge our position in utilizing sources and power, and we proceed to prioritize delivering extra to our prospects with a smaller environmental footprint,” mentioned Chief Company Affairs and Sustainability Officer Liliana Esposito. “With our newly validated science-based targets, we’ve got accomplished our local weather roadmap almost a yr forward of schedule, accelerating our journey to mitigate our local weather affect.”
Wendy’s Scope 1 and a couple of science-based goal goals to scale back emissions inside Firm operations at a tempo in line with holding warming under 1.5°C, which aligns to the most recent science, primarily based on findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Local weather Change (IPCC). This designation is essentially the most formidable designation obtainable by way of the SBTi’s validation course of, which goals to keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change.
“As we speak, Wendy’s joins the rising record of firms with science-based targets in line with limiting international warming to 1.5°C,” mentioned Luiz Amaral, Chief Government Officer of the Science Based mostly Targets initiative. “We now want extra company actors to set formidable targets like Wendy’s.”
By the method of setting its Scope 3 science-based targets, Wendy’s recognized two areas of focus for emissions reductions: bought items and franchised eating places. Bought items, corresponding to meals and packaging, characterize almost 85% of the System’s Scope 3 emissions whereas Wendy’s greater than 6,500 franchised eating places contribute roughly 10% of Scope 3 emissions. Collaboration all through the Wendy’s worth chain might be vital to reaching its Scope 3 targets, that are aligned to SBTi’s properly under 2°C standards.
Working Throughout Wendy’s Eating places and Worth Chain
Wendy’s work to chop emissions inside Firm operations (Scopes 1 and a couple of) and throughout the Wendy’s worth chain (Scope 3) is predicted to achieve throughout the System of greater than 7,000 eating places. Areas of focus could embrace:
- Figuring out tasks that allow a renewable power transition, soil well being restoration and manure administration, amongst different targets
- Collaborating with suppliers in scope for Wendy’s objective associated to Accountable Sourcing to establish methods to scale back emissions or sequester carbon of their operations and shared provide chain
- Creating a renewable electrical energy procurement technique throughout the Wendy’s System, beginning with participation in Duke Vitality Florida’s Clear Vitality Connection pilot program, which provides choose Firm eating places with photo voltaic power
- Partnering with the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Higher Buildings® Initiative to benchmark utility knowledge for Firm eating places and franchisees, resulting in higher effectivity and power financial savings
- Bettering power effectivity by way of tools retrofits and upgrades in Firm-operated eating places and at Wendy’s Restaurant Help Heart
- Leveraging Wendy’s World Subsequent Gen design customary for brand new restaurant builds, which is roughly 10% extra power environment friendly than Wendy’s commonest present restaurant format
- Exploring place-based tasks that help suppliers in adopting extra climate-friendly practices and are tailor-made to native and/or regional ecosystems
- Transitioning Firm-operated eating places and Wendy’s Restaurant Help Heart to make use of refrigerants with a decrease international warming potential, whereas sharing greatest practices for franchisee adoption
In 2021, Wendy’s dedicated to and started executing on a local weather roadmap with the objective of creating a science-based goal and interim milestones for completion by the top of 2023. These milestones included benchmarking, monitoring and decreasing Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 GHG emissions and reporting to CDP Local weather Change Disclosure.
