Apparel manufacturer Sae-A’s plans for greenhouse gas emissions have gotten the nod from the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), the South Korean company announced Monday.
According to a release from the company, it has committed to being net-zero by 2050. In alignment with that goal, Sae-A has set interim targets for 2030, which SBTi has validated.
The Seoul-headquartered company announced in December of last year that it had started the process of joining SBTi, which works to guide companies as they set carbon reduction goals. It uses the Paris Agreement, which states that the average global temperature rise must be limited to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius to avert further long-term environmental damage, as guidance.
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Last year, the company said it planned to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42 percent by 2030. According to a release from Sae-A, that target stands and received validation from SBTi.
The company also said it would work to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. That target stands, but it seems the path to get there has become more defined since December; on Monday, Sae-A said it had committed to decreasing its Scope 3 emissions by 25 percent by 2030.
According to the validation certification SBTi issued to Sae-A, the company’s net-zero commitment means that it will reduce its absolute Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions by 90 percent by 2050 against a 2022 benchmark. That, it notes, is set to include “land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks.”
In order to meet these goals, the company has used artificial intelligence and robotic process automation, which it said has been “greatly reducing user work hours and improving efficiency” in its operations.
Though the company is based in South Korea, it has a global presence, with factories in Haiti, Vietnam, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Indonesia.
In May, Sae-A joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which puts forth 10 principles for signatories to follow for more ethical, sustainable businesses. While the principles encompass a variety of issues, including human rights, labor and anti-corruption work, they also focus on three climate-specific tasks. According to the UNGC, “Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.”
Saila Kim, executive vice president of corporate strategy and management department at Sae-A Trading, said the company’s attempts at forward movement match the efforts of other players in the apparel value chain.
“Given the growing urgency of climate change, there is a clear shift towards ESG initiatives in retail and manufacturing. We are committed to using sustainable raw materials and packaging, cutting down on unnecessary polybags and tapes in favor of recycled alternatives. By integrating digital tools and traceability standards, we improve data accuracy and boost operational efficiency as well,” Kim said in a statement.
