42T is one of the UK’s first product design and development consultancies to work with SBTi to set annual reduction targets linked to the latest climate science, to agree to publish them and to have its progress independently validated. The company is also following in the footsteps of several of its clients, including some of the world’s leading FMCG, industrial and healthcare brand owners such as Linde, Kimberly-Clark and P&G, who are already actively working on their own SBTi-approved reduction programmes.

Under the terms of the agreement 42T has pledged to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 42% by 2030 from a 2022 base year, and to measure and reduce its scope 3 emissions.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions relate to direct emissions and indirect emissions associated with energy purchase; for 42T these are primarily associated with its use of natural gas and electricity generated from traditional fossil fuels. Scope 3 emissions arise indirectly from up and down the company’s value chain. For example, from purchasing goods and services from suppliers, employee commuting, business travel and waste generated from its day-to-day operations.

Dr Jon Spratley, CEO of 42 Technology said: “42 Technology’s commitment to the SBTi scheme aligns with our values and strategic vision about innovating for a better, greener and more sustainable world. It will allow us not only to capitalise on our existing carbon reduction expertise and client work but also help keep us ahead of emerging environmental regulations.”

To help calculate its existing carbon emissions and to set reduction targets, 42T has worked with the London office of environmental consultancy ClimatePartner. As part of its SBTi agreement, 42T will need to publicly report its scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory and progress against published targets annually, as well as its scope 3 emissions.

Katie Doig, senior consultant at 42T who is leading the company’s climate action programme said: “The team at 42T has an invaluable skill set to help our clients make the product design and manufacturing changes they need to as they progress towards net zero. These are currently some of our most exciting projects so we felt it was vital for 42T to make the same journey. Our commitment and new climate action initiatives will also provide new insights across many aspects of our business that we can use to better support our clients too.”

42T has signed up for the SBTi scheme using a streamlined target validation route that has been specifically developed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) employing fewer than 250 employees. This pathway enables SMEs to immediately set science-based targets for their scope 1 and 2 emissions from a list of pre-defined options and to start work towards achieving them. It also means that unlike large corporates, and to avoid imposing too great a burden on smaller businesses, SMEs only need to measure and reduce their scope 3 emissions rather than setting an initial target.