A Journey to Net Zero

BUNZL AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND OUTLINES ITS COMMITMENT TO BE NET ZERO BY 2030.

We are serious about playing our part in reducing emissions across the business,” says Bunzl Asia Pacific Managing Director Kim Hetherington. “We want to support global efforts to limit warming, to minimise biodiversity loss and to help create a net-zero economy by 2030. We believe in creating a sustainable environment for us and for those who follow.”

Hetherington says the goal is ambitious but necessary and takes a science-based approach to the challenge. The steps towards that goal consist of minimising emissions from its facilities (scope 1) and passenger fleet (scope 2) across the Asia Pacific region.

Bunzl is a trusted partner to its customers, collaborating with leading companies across sectors to help them achieve the sustainability objectives most relevant to their industries and fulfil their commitment and ambitions for sustainability. For many, this target is about transitioning to more sustainable products and packaging to support a circular economy and reduce waste to landfill. However, we also recognise the work to reduce carbon emissions is important to many as well.

“In 2020 we asked our stakeholders and

For further information contact our Sustainability Team at sustainability@ bunzl.com.au

Bunzl recognises climate change as one of the biggest environmental challenges the world faces and one which could detrimentally impact its operations, distribution network and supply chain.

many of our customers what they saw as important, and climate change was clearly a top priority. Our commitment to net zero, within a relatively short timeframe, demonstrates we’re listening and acting,” says Hetherington.

Bunzl Asia Pacific Head of Sustainability, Felicity Kelly, said carbon emission reduction has been a central focus within Bunzl Asia Pacific’s broader work on sustainable operations for some time.

“We’re on track to meet net zero by 2030. Between 2020-2021 alone, the consolidation of sites and efficiency improvements meant we reduced carbon emissions by approximately 3%.”

Ferm Calzado-Munoz, Group Real Estate Manager, added that further reductions in emissions from general operations are now a focus, including investments in best practice facility design and construction.

“For example, Bunzl’s investment in a new Sydney distribution centre – a 6-star GreenStar rated facility – is an initiative underway that will demonstrate the significant efficiencies that good design and focus can achieve.

“We are also making changes across existing facilities. With more than 30 sites across Australia and New Zealand, supported by major distribution centres in each capital city and many major regional centres across Australia, we’re focussing our efforts on where we can have the most impact.

“By 2023 we aim to have on-site solar installations in our Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and two of our largest Sydney distribution centres,” says Calzado-Munoz.

Kelly explains Bunzl is transitioning to hybrid vehicles in its passenger fleet and intends to purchase some renewable electricity, as well as invest in credible carbon offsetting programs to combat those emissions that cannot yet be removed.

As a global business with over 20,000 employees and operations across more than 30 countries, Bunzl recognises climate change as one of the biggest environmental challenges the world faces and one which could detrimentally impact its operations, distribution network and supply chain.

It is committed to ambitious action on climate change, and is a member of Business Ambition for 1.5 C campaign – an urgent call to companies across all sectors and geographies to set science-based net-zero aligned emissions reductions targets. Bunzl is also committed to the Race to Zero – a global campaign to rally leadership and support from business for a healthy, resilient zero carbon recovery.

Globally Bunzl has committed to several scope 1 and 2 targets, including 25% improvement in carbon efficiency by 2025 and 50% by 2030 (against a 2019 baseline). The business is also aiming for 100% group-wide renewable energy procurement by 2030.

Bunzl will publish its global net zero roadmap by the end of 2023 in line with expectations outlined at COP26; however, progress is already underway, with the company’s 2021 reporting noting a 12% improvement in carbon efficiency and a 60% reduction in carbon intensity since 2010.

Kelly said Bunzl Asia Pacific’s net zero target aligns with Bunzl’s global commitments.

“In Asia Pacific, we are also working with partners on scope 3 emissions through to 2050. We partner with specialist providers to meet our freight needs and we are working closely with them to close the gap on emissions, in line with the 2050 target.”