Tyson Foods has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations and supply chain by 2050.
The transition to net zero – which includes scopes 1, 2 and 3 – marks an expansion of the meat company’s current target of reducing 30% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
To meet its goal, Tyson Foods says it will focus on investments, renewable energy, land stewardship, deforestation, manure management, farm energy, feed, fertiliser, enteric methane and external partnerships.
The company plans to establish a pathway for its domestic operations to use 50% renewable energy by 2030. Other steps include working to eliminate deforestation risk by 2030 and expanding its current 5-million-acre grazing lands target for sustainable beef production practices by 2025.
“At Tyson Foods, we believe progress requires accountability and transparency and we are proud to exemplify that as we work to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” said John Tyson, chief sustainability officer at Tyson Foods.
“As the first US-based protein company in the food and beverage sector to have an emissions reduction target approved by the Science Based Target initiative, we hope to continue to push the industry as a leader and remain committed to making a positive impact on our planet, with our team members, consumers and customers, and in the communities we serve.”
Donnie King, newly-appointed president and CEO of Tyson Foods, added: “Partnership and collaboration will be critical to our efforts, and we look forward to working with our customers, supply chain partners, and other stakeholders to achieve net zero.”
The ambition comes at the same time as the release of the company’s FY2020 Sustainability Progress Report, where it fell short in a few categories. According to the report, Tyson reduced its water intensity by 7.7%, slightly short compared to its 12% target; and missed its ambition of increasing sustainable land stewardship practices on 2 million acres of row crop-corn by only enrolling 408,000 acres.
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