NET ZERO EMISSIONS COMMITMENT OF SAINT-GOBAIN

The next decade is critical. The recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned of severe consequences of a failure to prevent global warming exceeding 1.5°C. The impact of climate change is becoming more and more tangible. To limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C, emissions need to drop to net zero by the middle of the century. By taking this commitment, Saint-Gobain is willing to take its own responsibility in terms of attenuation and to signal our commitment to a zero-emissions future to our peers, employees, investors, policymakers, customers, suppliers, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.

The definition adopted within the pledge is the following “Reaching net-zero emissions for companies involves achieving a balance between emissions and removals for all GHGs within the company’s value chain over a specific period of time”. Various works are on-going at the international level to make this definition more precise. Saint-Gobain will contribute to those discussions and align itself to the outcome of those discussions.

To limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, emissions need to drop to net zero by the middle of the century. We will work on interim targets (2030, 2040) and steps taking into account the specificities of our processes and our investment cycles. Those targets will be also defined to make sure that they are aligned with 1.5°C scenarios and follow the methodologies developed by the relevant international organizations.

The main emissions from Saint-Gobain are coming from the fossil energy used in our processes and from some raw materials with high carbon content. Significant emissions are also coming from the transport of our raw materials or finished goods. Levers to act are the following:

To significantly improve the energy efficiency of our processes. Saint-Gobain is operating a number of furnaces that are working at high temperatures with still some remaining energy losses. Various projects implemented in the last years are demonstrating that a good part of this energy can be reused
To switch from energy with high carbon intensity to energy with low carbon intensity, first through electrification of our processes, when possible, or using other low carbon options (biomass, biogas, hydrogen, …). Obviously, the speed of full decarbonisation of our energy mix will depend on the evolution of the energy mix of the various countries where Saint-Gobain operates
To reduce our resource intensity, in particular, our raw materials potentially scarce or with high carbon content, through the development of a circular economy
To move our transportation options towards non-fossil fuel options.

Saint-Gobain is already committed to reducing its CO2 emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 20% between 2010 and 2025 (in intensity). By the end of 2018, we are in line with this target, with a reduction of nearly 12%. In absolute terms, taking into account the evolution of the portfolio of Saint-Gobain since 2010, it is a reduction by one-third.

To have a new building and existing buildings highly energy efficient – Saint-Gobain is developing and selling numerous solutions for increased energy efficiency
To have the remaining energy used for those buildings being decarbonized
To design the buildings with solutions that are less carbon-intensive – Saint-Gobain has a wide range of light-weight solutions that can easily replace carbon-intensive traditional construction techniques based on concrete, bricks, etc
To make sure that the solutions developed and sold by Saint-Gobain are decarbonized. It is the object of this pledge

Saint-Gobain is one major player within the value chain of building and construction. Building and construction accounts for 40% of the energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. 70% of those emissions are related to the energy consumed for heating, cooling, and sanitary water…., and 30% of those emissions are related to the “embodied carbon” within the materials used for construction, and transportation, …. To bring the built environment towards a net-zero roadmap, the following actions are critical:

To have a new building and existing buildings highly energy efficient – Saint-Gobain is developing and selling numerous solutions for increased energy efficiency
To have the remaining energy used for those buildings being decarbonized
To design the buildings with solutions that are less carbon-intensive – Saint-Gobain has a wide range of lightweight solutions that can easily replace carbon-intensive traditional construction techniques based on concrete, and bricks, ….
To make sure that the solutions developed and sold by Saint-Gobain are decarbonized. It is the object of this pledge.
Beyond the pledge of the Global Compact, within the frame of the Climate Summit, Saint-Gobain is supporting:

The “net zero carbon building for all” commitment developed within the ICLA track (Infrastructure, cities, local action) by the World Resources Institute
The 3% Club for energy efficiency
The report released by the World Green Building Council “Bringing embodied carbon Upfront”, is a contribution to their “Advancing Net Zero” campaign.
Saint-Gobain is very active in the various organizations that are helping governments, cities and all stakeholders to develop the right frame for a sustainable built environment.