Charlotte, North Carolina-headquartered Elevate Textiles says it is the first global textile manufacturer to receive validation of its Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the highest levels recommended. 

As part of its commitment, Elevate recently increased its original greenhouse gas emissions reduction target from 2.5% to 4.2% per year across its portfolio brands – American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components.

Specific Elevate brands have emerged as leaders in their respective markets, including A&E as the first thread manufacturer, Burlington as the first performance woven fabrics manufacturer and Cone Denim as one of the first denim mills all to receive approved targets.

“Gaining approval of these targets is a milestone,” said Jimmy Summers, Elevate’s chief sustainability officer. “We are excited to lead as the first global textile manufacturer to achieve this recognition, further validating our work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with climate science and in collaboration with many other private and public sector organisations. Our efforts to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions will also reduce our customers’ Scope 3 emissions. This collaborative effort is not only good for our brands and our customers, but also strengthens Elevate’s joint commitment to responsible and sustainable production worldwide.”

Elevate first joined the SBTi in September 2019 and began work on evaluating and setting commitments. Since then, the company has furthered its commitment by joining the Business Ambition 1.5°C Campaign and assessing emissions reduction targets across the entire value chain.  Elevate’s approved targets include a 46.2% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, as well as a 46.2% reduction in several Scope 3 categories – purchased goods and services, processing of sold products, and fuel and energy related emissions – across the same timeline.  Elevate has also set a long-term target to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as part of the Business Ambition for 1.5C Campaign.  

Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The SBTi champions this as a powerful way of boosting the competitive advantage of companies in the transition to the low-carbon economy. It is a collaboration between the Customer Data Platform (CDP), the World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).

www.elevatetextiles.com

www.sciencebasedtargets.org/business-ambition-for-1-5c