Cone Denim’s parent company just received the green light to take its next steps toward a net-zero future.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Elevate Textiles announce the validation of its near-term and net-zero emissions targets by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). Elevate, along with its brands American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann, and Safety Components, will utilize these validations to push forward in accomplishing its 2030 sustainability goals.
Elevate is committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 46.2 percent by 2030 from a 2019 base year. It also aims to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel and energy related activities, purchased goods and services, and processing of sold products by 46.2 percent by 2030.
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“These steps mark an important milestone in an increasingly difficult decarbonization challenge,” said Jimmy Summers, chief sustainability officer of Elevate Textiles.
Elevate submitted GHG emission reduction targets to the SBTi, which then assessed its near-term and net-zero targets against their own Net-Zero Standard Criteria and Near-Term Target Criteria and Recommendations.
SBTi noted that Elevate’s net-zero target is the most ambitious designation currently available.
The SBTi is a corporate climate action organization that develops standards, tools and guidance that allow companies to set GSG emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at the latest. It has also validated targets for Soorty, Sapphire Mills and YKK.
SBTi is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature.
Cone Denim is working toward several sustainability goals for 2030. It has achieved more than a 50 percent absolute water usage reduction for its dyeing and finishing processes. The denim producer is also working toward 100 percent renewable electricity. Last October, the company installed its first solar panels at its facility in Jiaxing, China, as part of a photovoltaic power generation project. The installation generates 9 MWh of electricity annually, providing an estimated 17 percent drop in that plant’s greenhouse gas emissions.
