Pharmaceutical Groups Target Industrial Heat

Sanofi, UCB and Opella have joined the Clean Heat Programme, an initiative designed to accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel-based industrial heating with lower-carbon alternatives.

The three pharmaceutical companies join AstraZeneca, which became a founding member in December 2025.

Developed by supply chain intelligence network Secaro and sustainability consultancy ERM, the programme addresses barriers to industrial heat decarbonisation including limited technical expertise, supplier engagement, funding constraints and the complexity of upgrading heating systems.

Industrial heat can represent a significant source of operational emissions, while pharmaceutical manufacturers must also maintain production quality, safety and reliability as they introduce alternative technologies.

“Heat has been one of the most challenging areas across the pharmaceutical value chain on the road to net zero, with high technical barrier, diverse supplier maturity and complex business cases”, said Giannis Kourousias, Sanofi Global Procurement Head – Environmental Responsibility.

“By partnering with our peers, we can jointly develop solutions that will unblock suppliers in this critical area by providing deep technical expertise, support focusing on the right things and facilitate funding options.”

Clean Heat Programme Targets Supplier Decarbonisation

The initiative comes as pharmaceutical companies establish emissions reduction targets covering both their operations and wider value chains.

Sanofi has committed to reducing its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 90 per cent between 2019 and 2045. UCB has committed to a 90 per cent reduction in absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2045 from a 2019 baseline, while Opella is targeting a 58.8 per cent reduction by 2034 and 90 per cent by 2050 from a 2023 baseline.

The companies’ near and long-term emissions targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Marissa Saretsky, Chief Sustainability Officer at Opella, said: “Decarbonising industrial heat is an important challenge to tackle as part of our net zero ambition, and working on this with key partners is a must for developing lasting low-carbon solutions.”

“At Opella, our Health³ strategy recognises the interconnected health of planet, people, and businesses. By partnering with Secaro, ERM and our fellow founding members, we are seizing all available opportunities to accelerate progress and help build a more sustainable, resilient healthcare system.”

Schneider Electric and 3Degrees Join Partner Network

Secaro has also expanded the programme’s partner network through new agreements with Schneider Electric and 3Degrees.

Schneider Electric’s SE Advisory Services will provide suppliers with services including energy studies, investment-grade audits, metering gap analysis and energy management systems.

3Degrees will contribute expertise in the short and long-term procurement of renewable natural gas and biomethane across US and European markets.

Dave Rimkus, Head of Global Supply Chain Decarbonisation at SE Advisory Services, said: “Accelerating supply chain decarbonisation requires streamlining pathways to implementation to the lower carbon alternatives.”

“Through initiatives like Energize, we have seen how collaboration can create these pathways to increase the uptake on renewable electricity adoption across value chains. We are excited to partner with Secaro and support the Clean Heat Programme in bringing the same collaborative, action-oriented approach to one of the next frontiers of decarbonisation: industrial heat.”

Collaboration Targets Cost and Technical Barriers

Secaro said the programme is designed to help participating companies and their suppliers overcome the financial and technical challenges associated with changing industrial heating systems.

Emily Prior, Chief Growth Officer at Secaro, said: “By decarbonising heat in their supply chains, our members are also driving operational efficiencies, reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel prices and preparing for future regulation.”

Jon Hughes, Partner, Sustainable Products and Supply Chain at ERM, added: “For many manufacturers, decarbonising industrial heat represents one of the largest and most technically complex opportunities to reduce emissions.”

“By bringing together leading companies, experienced technical specialists, funding options and proven clean heat solutions, the Clean Heat Programme helps organisations overcome barriers to adoption and deliver measurable emissions reductions throughout their supply chains.”

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Six Consumer Goods Groups Back PaperFlex Consortium

Six global consumer goods companies have joined forces to develop and scale paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging, targeting applications such as sachets, wrappers and pouches.

The PaperFlex Consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and powered by (RE)SET, brings together founding members Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

The initiative will focus particularly on markets where flexible plastic packaging is widely used but collection and recycling infrastructure is limited, increasing the likelihood of packaging entering the environment.

Members aim to develop alternatives that can be recycled as collection systems improve while also being biodegradable if they unintentionally enter the environment.

Packaging R&D Targets Performance and Scale

Over the next few years, members intend to shape, fund and conduct collaborative trials covering biodegradable coatings and other technologies designed to provide product protection, shelf life and consumer usability.

Research will also address the performance of paper-based materials on manufacturing lines, a key consideration for food and beverage companies seeking to deploy alternative packaging at scale.

Sander Defruyt, Strategy Lead for Plastics at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said: “Responsible paper-based flexible packaging solutions don’t yet exist at the performance, scale and cost required.

“This consortium signals strong demand for them – and real ambition from six consumer goods companies to help scale them. We’re inviting other FMCG companies, innovators, suppliers and investors to get involved now – the faster we develop such solutions, the sooner they reach the markets that need them most.”

Food and Beverage Groups Target Packaging Innovation

Nestlé, Mars, PepsiCo and Unilever are among the major food and beverage businesses participating in the initiative.

Gilles Demaurex, Head of Global Packaging Development at Nestlé, said: “Nestlé believes that paper-based flexible packaging can play a valuable role in addressing virgin plastic reduction and minimising flexible packaging waste and pollution. By joining our efforts under the PaperFlex Consortium, promising paper innovations will be developed and deployed responsibly at scale faster and at lower cost.”

Allison Lin, Global Vice President of Healthy Planet and Chief Circularity Officer at Mars, said: “The consortium challenges the traditional mindset of innovating on our own, demonstrating that partnership – structured with legal oversight, clear guardrails on permissible topics, and an independent third-party convenor – can accelerate the development of more sustainable packaging in ways that no single company could achieve alone.”

Pablo Costa, Head of Packaging, Digital and Transformation, R&D at Unilever, added: “At Unilever, we have made significant investments in packaging innovation. Our dedicated teams are accelerating the development of next-generation paper-based packaging that can be scaled while delivering the experience consumers expect. Through the consortium, we are helping bring together the expertise, investment and shared learning needed to accelerate innovation and support a responsible transition at scale.”

Tackling Flexible Plastic Packaging

The initiative follows an Ellen MacArthur Foundation report examining the potential role of paper-based flexible packaging in tackling small-format plastic pollution in markets with high leakage rates.

The report, endorsed by 48 businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), investors and academics, identified responsibly designed paper-based alternatives as one potential part of a broader strategy.

The consortium’s work will be guided by six design criteria, including recyclability, biodegradability and responsible sourcing and production, while maintaining food safety, product quality, consumer protection and regulatory compliance.

Frank Gana, CEO and Co-Founder of (RE)SET, said: “Our track record in running R&D consortia shows how they can speed up the path to solutions. While participation in this consortium is voluntary and each member makes its own packaging decisions, this approach lets us develop and scale solutions faster and at lower cost – benefiting consumers, the environment, and the entire industry.”

The PaperFlex Consortium is also inviting other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, innovators, suppliers and investors to participate as it seeks to accelerate the development and commercial scaling of paper-based flexible packaging.

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FedEx Expands SAF Procurement Across Five Airports

FedEx is increasing its procurement of sustainable aviation fuel across its US air network, with new agreements covering operations at five major airports.

The agreements span Newark Liberty International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Miami International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

They are expected to secure more than 20 million gallons of neat SAF through calendar year 2027, with the fuel delivered in blends ranging from 30 per cent to 50 per cent depending on location.

FedEx is working towards a target of sourcing 30 per cent of its jet fuel blended from alternative sources by 2030.

“The latest agreements represent an expansion of SAF within the FedEx air network enabled, in part, by state and federal level incentives,” said Greg Paulus, Vice President of Enterprise Sourcing at FedEx.

Building on Existing SAF Deployment

The latest agreements build on FedEx’s existing procurement of alternative aviation fuels.

Starting in 2025, the company secured approximately five million gallons of neat SAF through agreements that resulted in the deployment of 16.5 million gallons of blended SAF across five US airports.

With the latest procurement phase, FedEx said SAF blends will represent a significant share of its jet fuel consumption at the five airports covered by the new agreements.

The expansion demonstrates how fuel procurement is becoming part of the company’s wider approach to reducing emissions from its logistics network, while also providing demand for greater SAF production.

“SAF is one of the most impactful decarbonization solutions available to aviation today and an important part of our approach to reducing emissions,” said Karen Blanks Ellis, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environmental Affairs at FedEx.

“For the market to grow, supply needs to be reliable, affordable, and sustainable. Expanding our procurement allows us to employ more SAF in our network while bolstering the demand for greater production and scale.”

Supply, Infrastructure and Economics Shape Expansion

FedEx said further expansion of SAF use will depend on the development of the wider market and the availability of suitable supply and infrastructure.

The company will continue evaluating opportunities to increase SAF deployment where supply, infrastructure and economics align with the requirements of its air network.

The agreements form part of FedEx’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes a goal of achieving carbon-neutral global operations by 2040.

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Siemens Targets Circularity in Industrial Automation

Siemens is expanding access to refurbished industrial automation products through a new partnership with German business-to-business (B2B) marketplace Sparepartsnow.

The agreement will make manufacturer-refurbished Siemens drives, controllers and human-machine interface (HMI) panels available through the Sparepartsnow digital marketplace, initially targeting customers across Europe.

The approach, refurbished by Siemens, combines the company’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) refurbishment capabilities with Sparepartsnow’s digital reach.

By keeping existing automation equipment in use for longer, the companies aim to extend product lifecycles, improve equipment availability and reduce waste and resource consumption.

“Circular Lifecycle Solutions Without Compromising on Quality or Performance.”

Stefan Jäger, Head of Circular Product Services at Siemens, said: “This partnership with Sparepartsnow reinforces our commitment to providing customers with circular lifecycle solutions without compromising on quality or performance.”

“Customers can confidently choose Siemens’ refurbished products, knowing they meet the original manufacturer’s high-quality standards. Every product undergoes a rigorous refurbishment process and comprehensive testing to ensure it meets its original technical specifications, performance characteristics, and applicable industry and safety standards.”

Extending Industrial Product Lifecycles

The refurbished portfolio consists of previously used Siemens automation products professionally restored by the company to the same technical specifications and performance characteristics as when originally placed on the market.

Each device undergoes a standardised process incorporating technical repairs, required hardware and software updates, visual restoration where necessary and quality testing against Siemens production standards and manufacturer specifications.

The products are not functionally modified or performance enhanced. Instead, they retain their original technical specifications and product characteristics while meeting the safety, conformity and cybersecurity requirements applicable when they were originally placed on the market.

Products are only released for resale after successfully passing Siemens’ functional and quality tests.

Dr Christian Hoffart, CEO of Sparepartsnow, said: “This partnership with Siemens transforms circularity into a scalable solution, bringing value to our industrial customers.”

“As these products were refurbished by their original manufacturer, we and our customers can trust in Siemens’ quality and reliability.”

Refurbished Portfolio Set to Expand

The partnership is designed to combine circular economy principles with the operational requirements of industrial customers, where equipment availability and reliability remain important considerations.

Siemens and Sparepartsnow said extending the useful life of automation equipment can help conserve resources while reducing waste and supporting operational continuity.

The refurbished Siemens portfolio will initially be available in Europe across a defined selection of drives, controllers and HMI panels.

The companies plan to progressively expand both the range of products available and the geographical reach of the programme.

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Whirlpool Expands Carbon Removal Strategy

Whirlpool Corporation has secured a portfolio of durable carbon removal through ClimeFi as part of its wider decarbonisation strategy.

The agreement combines firm carbon removal offtake commitments with standalone carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options, giving the home appliance manufacturer a committed stream of carbon removal alongside the flexibility to access additional volumes as its requirements evolve.

The standalone options are also intended to provide protection against future commercial changes by securing access to future carbon removal supply at a fixed price.

For carbon removal project developers, ClimeFi said firm offtakes can provide greater certainty and evidence of buyer demand to support investment, while standalone options can provide early cash flow and demonstrate market traction.

Samantha Truesdell, Enterprise Sustainability Manager at Whirlpool Corporation, said: “This commitment is an exciting step in a strategy several years in the making.”

“With ClimeFi we have crafted an initial portfolio that reflects Whirlpool Corporation’s unique and progressive approach to decarbonization and environmental sustainability. We are thrilled to be able to support projects that share our core values and ambition to improve life across communities where we do business around the world.”

Four Carbon Removal Technologies Selected

Whirlpool’s portfolio covers four carbon removal approaches across four suppliers in the US and Brazil.

CREW Carbon will provide marine CDR in the US, while Gevo represents biogenic carbon capture and storage (Bio-CCS). Brazil-based InPlanet provides enhanced weathering, and Liferaft represents biochar-based carbon removal in the US.

The portfolio has been structured to diversify Whirlpool’s exposure across different carbon removal technologies rather than relying on a single pathway.

The selected projects also have links to Whirlpool’s geographic and business footprint, with an emphasis on initiatives that support communities, including rural and farming communities in the US and Brazil.

Flexible Model Targets Future Carbon Removal Supply

The structure of the agreement is designed to address both certainty and flexibility as the carbon removal market develops.

Firm offtake commitments provide Whirlpool with contracted carbon removal supply, while the standalone options allow it to reserve access to further offtakes without committing immediately to the additional volume.

Paolo Piffaretti, CEO and Co-Founder of ClimeFi, said: “We are excited to be working with Whirlpool Corporation, a global household name, on securing a carbon removal portfolio that reflects their long-term ambitions.”

“This innovative structure reflects a shift in how corporations think about carbon removal procurement—firm offtakes give Whirlpool Corporation certainty of delivery, while the standalone options give them the flexibility to secure more volume later, on their own terms.”

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GOLD FOR A SECOND YEAR

Ivalua has achieved the EcoVadis Gold Medal for the second consecutive year, further strengthening its sustainability credentials with an improved score of 85 out of 100.

The enterprise AI platform for procurement has increased its score from 79 to 85, with only two percent of businesses assessed by EcoVadis achieving this level over the previous 12 months.

The recognition comes from EcoVadis, the world’s largest provider of business sustainability ratings, which evaluates more than 175,000 companies globally on how they integrate environmental, social, and governance considerations across areas including environmental impact, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

For Ivalua, the latest result reflects progress across all three ESG areas, supported by a range of initiatives spanning its own operations and its wider relationships with partners, suppliers, and customers.

TURNING COMMITMENT INTO ACTION

Several developments have contributed to Ivalua’s improved EcoVadis score.

The company has streamlined its global recycling and reuse processes and partnered with Climeworks to remove 600 tonnes of CO2 through Direct Air Capture technology and nature-based solutions.

Alongside its environmental initiatives, Ivalua has introduced an employee-led volunteering programme across five countries, extending its sustainability efforts into its social impact activities.

The company has also published its latest Corporate Sustainability Report in accordance with GRI Standards, achieving the highest levels of reporting compliance and transparency.

At the same time, Ivalua has continued to invest in Green IT and internal sustainable procurement processes, aiming to advance sustainability alongside its partners, suppliers, and customers.

This focus extends to the organisations using Ivalua’s platform. A major global retailer, for example, leverages Ivalua as its global platform to quantitatively assess 100 percent of its supply chain against its broad set of sustainability criteria.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAINS

Franck Lheureux, CEO of Ivalua, outlines how the company is committed to upholding its high standards, which is positively affecting the wider supply chain industry.

“As we partner with leading organisations worldwide to build sustainable and efficient supply chains, we are committed to holding ourselves to those same rigorous standards.”

“Earning the EcoVadis Gold Medal for the second consecutive year, with a further score improvement, is proof of our collective efforts and the momentum we keep building.”

The recognition highlights Ivalua’s efforts to connect sustainability with its core focus on spend and supplier management.

Ivalua describes itself as the only truly unified, enterprise AI platform for managing spend and suppliers, connecting people, AI, workflows, and data to help businesses become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable.

With more than 500 of the world’s most admired brands using its platform, the company is continuing to position sustainability as an integral part of procurement and supply chain management.

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM

Ivalua’s second consecutive EcoVadis Gold Medal marks another step in its sustainability journey, with the improvement from 79 to 85 demonstrating continued progress since its previous assessment.

From emissions removal and Green IT to employee volunteering, sustainable procurement, and more transparent reporting, the company continues to build sustainability into both its operations and the supply chains it supports.

With only two percent of businesses assessed by EcoVadis achieving the same level over the previous 12 months, the latest Gold Medal provides a strong benchmark for Ivalua as it continues to build on its ESG progress.

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CREATING BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE

Between 2020 and 2025, cocoa-growing communities such as those in Côte d’Ivoire have showcased notable progress in preventing child labour and strengthening the communities by applying a holistic approach and working closely with and through government entities. This is thanks to the long-term strategic partnership between Save the Children – a children’s charity based in the UK that works across 100 countries – and Ferrero – an Italian multinational company and one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food producers.

The programme introduced by the two organisations uses an integrated approach that merges child protection, education, and community economic development, whilst engaging families, schools, institutions, civil society organisations, and actors across the cocoa supply chain. Improving the economic resilience of local families is a central part of the model and crucial in addressing the conditions which contribute to child labour.

Specifically, during the five-year period, the proportion of households with diversified sources of income rose from 24 percent to 65 percent, whilst the proportion of families living below the poverty line fell from 60 percent to 43 percent.

“These strong results demonstrate the value of long-term investment in cocoa-growing communities and are an important part of Ferrero’s responsible sourcing approach, combining carefully managed sourcing models with interventions that strengthen children, families, and communities. But structural challenges such as child labour cannot be addressed by any single actor. We need to build on what works and bring it to scale by combining expertise and resources and, critically, by working not only with governments but through governments, strengthening local systems and capacities. This is the ambition of Cacao Connect: an open model bringing together public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and research to drive broader, lasting change in cocoa-growing communities,” states Francesco Tramontin, Vice President Global Public Affairs at Ferrero.

LASTING CHANGE IN COCOA-GROWING COMMUNITIES

The presence of child labour in the cocoa supply is a systemic issue. Within rural areas, child labour is due to myriad interconnected reasons, such as poverty, economic vulnerability, limited access to education and essential services, low awareness of children’s rights, and limited development opportunities.

Therefore, to properly address child labour, it is necessary to identify and prevent individual cases alongside tackling the underlying causes so children can grow up protected, stay in school, and have better opportunities for the future.

Education, in particular, is a crucial pillar of Ferrero and Save the Children’s programme. During the 2020-2025 period, primary school enrolment increased from 78 percent to 84 percent, whilst regular school attendance rose from 75 percent to 97 percent. Additionally, 89 percent of children who attended bridging classes, which are designed to recover missed years of education, were enrolled in the formal education system to complete primary school.

Daniela Fatarella, Director General of Save the Children Italy, states: “The results achieved confirm that concrete, lasting change in the lives of children, adolescents, and their families is possible when the root causes of child labour are addressed through an integrated, system-wide approach. Strengthening child protection, expanding access to education, and investing in community development means creating the conditions for children’s rights to be fully upheld and for communities to become more resilient and prosperous over time. This is the value of long-term investment, made possible by our partnership with Ferrero and further strengthened by the support of Italian Development Cooperation. Collaboration between public institutions, the private sector, and civil society can create models that deliver measurable, sustainable, and replicable impact, whilst also contributing to an increasingly responsible cocoa supply chain that respects children’s rights.” Ultimately, Ferrero and Save the Children are looking to build on the results achieved over the 2020-2025 period, with the partnership now entering a new phase that will continue until 2030 and be further strengthened by the support of Italian Development Cooperation.

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Novisto Targets Double Materiality Reporting

Novisto has introduced Novisto Materiality, a new solution that digitises double materiality assessments and integrates them directly into its sustainability performance management platform.

The technology is aimed at organisations managing sustainability reporting requirements under frameworks including the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.

Double materiality assesses both the financial effects sustainability issues can have on a business and the impact a business has on people and the environment.

Novisto said the new offering is designed to replace static, consultant-led assessments with an ongoing and auditable digital process.

From Static Reports to Continuous Assessment

Traditional materiality assessments can rely heavily on qualitative surveys and stakeholder judgement, according to Novisto, making it difficult to compare different sustainability impacts consistently.

The company also argues that the time and cost involved can leave organisations with infrequent, point-in-time reports that quickly become outdated.

Novisto Materiality embeds the assessment process into the company’s core platform, allowing organisations to run assessments when business needs arise, including during events such as potential acquisitions.

The solution uses a methodology developed by GIST Impact and applies standardised, data-driven scoring intended to give organisations a more consistent and evidence-based foundation for sustainability and risk management.

AI Supports Materiality Scoring

The platform brings several stages of the assessment process into a single workflow.

Organisations can capture qualitative and quantitative data, generate impact and financial materiality scores using artificial intelligence (AI), engage internal and external stakeholders through in-platform surveys and document the rationale behind materiality decisions.

The platform also maintains verified data and decision records intended to support assurance, audit and data verification.

By integrating the assessment with Novisto’s wider sustainability reporting platform, organisations can move from identifying material sustainability issues to disclosure within the same system.

Katherine Bruce, ESG Reporting Lead at Emirates Group, said: “Materiality assessments involve a significant amount of stakeholder input, analysis and judgement.”

“Embedding materiality directly within Novisto will help us maintain a clear connection between those decisions and the resulting disclosures, improving transparency, traceability and consistency throughout the reporting process.”

Materiality Becomes Ongoing Sustainability Management

Novisto is positioning the product not only as a compliance tool but as a way for organisations to incorporate materiality into wider sustainability and risk programmes.

The platform is designed to help teams continually assess sustainability impacts, risks and opportunities rather than relying on assessments carried out periodically.

It can also be used by consulting firms conducting materiality assessments on behalf of clients.

Charles Assaf, CEO and Co-Founder of Novisto, said: “Materiality should not be treated as a box to check once every two years.”

“We believe the effectiveness and reliability of ESG and risk programs depend on the integrity of its starting point. This launch reflects our vision of giving organizations the confidence to manage sustainability information with the same discipline as financial information.”

The launch expands Novisto’s sustainability performance management platform as organisations seek to improve the quality, auditability and strategic use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information.

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Climate Disruption Creates Financial Impact

Businesses are experiencing significant financial consequences from climate-related disruption while struggling to integrate the sustainability data needed to inform decisions on risk, investment and supply chains.

The Sustainability in Action 2026 report from Sweep and Capgemini found that 94 per cent of senior leaders surveyed said climate-related disruption had caused financial losses for their company during the past two years.

Almost a third – 30 per cent – reported losses exceeding USD$1 million, while only one in five reported minimal financial impact below USD$100,000.

The findings are based on research among 1,000 senior leaders across the US, UK, France, the DACH region and Nordics, covering energy, life sciences, manufacturing, retail and transportation.

Rachel Delacour, Co-Founder and CEO of Sweep, said: “Sustainability has not fallen off the business agenda, in fact the opposite is true.”

“There is a growing risk to companies as climate disruption and geopolitical tensions continue to impact supply chains, costs and investment decisions faster than the data systems built to help manage them.”

Sustainability Data Confidence Declines

Despite the growing financial implications of climate disruption, 79 per cent of respondents said their sustainability data was insufficient to accurately inform wider business strategy because it had not been properly integrated across their organisation.

The figure represents a significant deterioration from Sweep and Capgemini’s 2024 research, when 53 per cent of respondents said their data lacked the reliability required to inform business strategy.

The latest report points to sustainability information remaining siloed across business systems, as well as problems with incomplete data and a lack of standardisation.

These limitations come as companies increasingly use sustainability information to support decisions covering costs, risk mitigation, supply chains, procurement and investment.

AI Investment Supports Sustainability Strategies

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as one-way businesses are attempting to improve the reliability and usefulness of sustainability information.

Almost eight in 10 respondents – 79 per cent – said AI adoption had increased investment in sustainability.

Reported benefits include improved data accuracy and audit readiness, greater access to investment and reductions in the time required for data collection and processing.

Cyril Garcia, Global Head of Sustainability Services, Corporate Responsibility and member of the Group Executive Board at Capgemini, said: “Resilience is no longer just about managing risk. It is about anticipating disruption and acting with confidence.”

“Trusted, connected data across the value chain is the foundation that enables AI to improve supply chain performance, advance sustainability outcomes, and create sustained competitive advantage for organisations.”

Low-Carbon Transition Seen as Growth Opportunity

Despite concerns surrounding data and disruption, the research indicates that businesses continue to see commercial opportunities in the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Some 85 per cent of respondents said their business must transform for the low-carbon economy, while 86 per cent viewed the transition as a growth opportunity rather than an inhibitor.

Delacour said: “Business leaders are under pressure to respond to the huge financial losses fueled by geopolitical changes, extreme weather events and uncertain economic conditions.”

“Sustainability data is an answer to all of that, as it provides insights on where these risks are hitting the business, what it is costing them, and where to act first.”

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FIBRE FORTIFICATION

A global leader in ingredient solutions for healthier food and beverages, Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle) has set a new target to address consumers’ daily fibre gap by delivering an additional 15 grams (g) of fibre to individuals’ diets each day. The company’s ambitious goal is to reach 35 billion daily fibre equivalent servings by 31 March 2030, which aligns with Tate & Lyle’s 2030 purpose targets.

Whilst the global recommended intake of fibre is approximately 30 g per day, research has shown that the average daily intake of an adult falls short by nearly 15 g. This is known as the ‘fibre gap’, meaning that the majority of consumers would feel real benefits if they increased their fibre intake to the recommended levels.

“Our purpose is at the heart of our business. It helps us navigate an uncertain and constantly changing world, and address some of society’s major challenges. By adding a new fibre fortification goal, we are recognising the important role that fibre plays in improving people’s diets and overall health. We are committed to delivering on this new target, and our other purpose targets by 2030,” states Rowan Adams, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer at Tate & Lyle.

Between April 2020 and March 2026, the company worked to improve consumer nutrition by providing 18.3 billion daily fibre gap equivalent servings of 15 g of fibre in food and beverages, bringing the company one step closer to its goal of 35 billion servings in the next four years.

IMPROVING CONSUMER NUTRITION

Tate & Lyle’s long-standing reputation within the food and beverage industry is supported by its 165-year history of ingredient innovation, partnership with customers to provide healthier and tastier choices, and millions of consumers across the globe who use products that contain the company’s ingredients and solutions every day.

With leading expertise in sweetening, mouthfeel, and fortification, Tate & Lyle develops ingredients and solutions to reduce sugar, calories, and fat, whilst adding fibre and protein. The company provides texture and stability to food and drink in categories such as beverages, dairy, bakery, snacks, soup, sauces, and dressings. The company boasts approximately 5,000 employees across 70 locations in 37 countries, serving customers in more than 120 countries.

The company is steadfast in the belief that it can successfully grow the Tate & Lyle business and have a positive impact on society, and is working towards this purpose by supporting healthy living, building thriving communities, and caring for the planet.

The company’s fibre fortification goal has been added to its long-term purpose targets, measuring how Tate & Lyle is living its purpose. Its purpose targets, which were originally set over a five-year period to 2025, have been extended to cover 10 years from April 2020 to March 2030, with strong progress already being made.

Ultimately, as a global leader in soluble fibres and with a NutraStrong™ prebiotic verified portfolio, Tate & Lyle has positioned itself well to improve health for consumers across the globe by adding fibre to everyday food and beverages, closing the fibre gap in a sustainable, healthy manner.

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GSK Signs Eight-Year Carbon Credit Agreement

GSK is investing in a regenerative agriculture carbon project covering 50,000 hectares of smallholder farmland in the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana as part of its pathway towards net zero.

Earthly facilitated the eight-year emissions reduction purchase agreement between the global biopharmaceutical company and carbon removal developer Varaha.

The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping farmers move away from crop residue burning while increasing the amount of carbon stored in agricultural soils.

It is expected to generate around 100,000 tonnes of removal credits annually between 2028 and 2033, equivalent to approximately seven per cent of GSK’s forecast residual emissions based on its current carbon reduction pathway.

Adele Cheli, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability at GSK, said: “For GSK, environmental sustainability is core to business resilience and human health. This investment demonstrates how we’re progressing in our net-zero journey, whilst also delivering co-benefits for human health, nature and local communities.”

Regenerative Agriculture Targets Crop Burning

Varaha’s project works with smallholder farmers to replace conventional agricultural practices including residue burning, intensive tillage and flood-irrigated rice transplanting.

Alternatives include Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), reduced tillage and incorporating crop residue back into the soil.

Farmers receive subsidised access to machinery alongside a share of the carbon credit revenue generated by changing their agricultural practices.

According to the project partners, participating farming households have recorded average income increases of between 12 and 16 per cent since joining the programme, supported by higher yields, lower fertiliser expenditure and carbon revenues.

Madhur Jain, Co-Founder and CEO of Varaha, said: “India burns roughly 100 million tonnes of crop residue a year. It burns because for a smallholder with a few days between harvest and sowing, fire is free and every alternative costs money.”

“We work with more than 200,000 farming families and the lesson is consistent: burning stops when the alternative pays. Credit revenue pays for the equipment and the extra labour.”

Project Links Carbon Reduction with Air Quality

Alongside its carbon impact, the programme is intended to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) released through crop residue burning.

During its first monitoring period, covering 42,000 hectares, the project avoided the release of 4,574 tonnes of PM2.5 from burning and saved approximately 59.5 billion litres of water, according to Earthly and Varaha.

The partners are positioning these outcomes as important co-benefits of the carbon project, alongside increased farmer income and improved soil conditions.

Reporting will take place quarterly across carbon, water, farmer income and community engagement outcomes, with credits structured for delivery through to 2034.

Carbon Credits Undergo Independent Verification

The project is certified under Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard using its VM0042 methodology for improved agricultural land management.

As part of the GSK agreement, it is upgrading to VM0042 version 2.2, which has been approved under the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles.

Carbon removals are quantified using remote sensing and machine learning-based monitoring before being independently verified.

Earthly has also assessed the project using its Keystone 3.0 methodology, which evaluates projects across carbon, biodiversity and people criteria.

Lorenzo Curci, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Earthly, said: “This deal shows long-term corporate commitments are still firmly on the agenda for leading corporates and that securing credits from projects that deliver across multiple social and biodiversity outcomes is critical.”

GSK Targets 80 Per Cent Emissions Reduction by 2030

The agreement forms part of GSK’s wider climate strategy, under which it aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80 per cent from a 2020 baseline by 2030.

The remaining 20 per cent is expected to be addressed through investment in high-quality nature protection and restoration projects that also deliver benefits for human health.

GSK plans to retire its first carbon credits in 2030 and its investment approach prioritises long-term projects with benefits extending beyond carbon, including health, nature and local communities.

By linking carbon finance with changes to agricultural practices, the India programme is intended to demonstrate how corporate climate investment can simultaneously support emissions reduction, carbon storage, air quality, water conservation and smallholder livelihoods.

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WATER-SAVING INFRASTRUCTURE

With the aim of transforming 6,000 acres of rice farmland in the Trinity River Basin with water-saving irrigation practices, companies AgriCapture and Google have partnered to deliver more than 5.4 billion gallons of water benefit and advance water stewardship in Texas.

AgriCapture, Google, and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) have announced their collaboration to reduce irrigation withdrawals in one of the most stressed watersheds in the state of Texas.

“This partnership shows what’s possible when smart technology and strong partners come together to strengthen agriculture. Google is financing system-level change. Improved irrigation infrastructure paired with economic incentives to farmers supports the Texas rice industry while returning 5.4 billion gallons of water to the community watershed,” states Tyler Hull, CEO of AgriCapture.

Across the globe, rice provides approximately one-fifth of all calories consumed by humans. However, that scale comes with a water footprint of over 170 gallons per pound of finished rice. Specifically, in Texas, around 140,000 acres of rice are flood-irrigated annually within the Trinity River Basin, which is currently under pressure from agricultural demand, urban growth, and recurring drought.

WATER STEWARDSHIP ACROSS TEXAS

Within this partnership, AgriCulture is working directly with rice farmers in Texas to improve irrigation systems that optimize water use throughout the growing season, enabling farmers to transition away from continuous flooding.

Throughout the project, irrigation will be measured to quantify water savings using flow meters, field sensors, and geospatial monitoring. Then, AgriCulture quantifies the annual volumetric water benefit of the improved irrigation systems compared to the previous flood irrigation to generate verified volumetric water benefits. Additionally, Google is financing the transition by providing the upfront capital investment behind the irrigation infrastructure, alongside performance-based financial benefits to farmers for the water they save.

This rice program will add to AgriCapture’s growing portfolio of water stewardship and carbon projects across six US states and countries including Brazil, Argentina, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Google has committed approximately USD$500 million to water, wastewater, and water reuse infrastructure, supporting 165 water stewardship projects across 97 watersheds.

AgriCapture – as a leading developer of agricultural sustainability solutions and a trusted partner to companies seeking durable, nature-based emission reductions and water stewardship outcomes – is on a mission to deliver cost-effective water solutions that are community-focused and globally scalable. Specifically, the company’s digital asset platform and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) allow farmers to monetize sustainable land and irrigation management practices through the generation of high-integrity environmental assets.

The carbon and water programs that AgriCapture supports span over 400,000 acres across 10 countries to generate water savings and methane reductions on behalf of Fortune 500 companies across industries including technology, food and beverage, and financial services.

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RESHAPING THE HYGIENE CATEGORY

Announcing its proprietary alternative natural fiber innovation program, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Kimberly-Clark) is building the foundation for a next-generation, high-performance, sustainable materials platform.

With the potential to power the company’s future hygiene products with enhanced performance, quality, and sustainability, Kimberly-Clark’s team of researchers and scientists developed its newest initiative. They achieved this breakthrough by creating a patented technology platform via the transformation of fibers from a rapidly renewable succulent plant into sustainable material.

Craig Slavtcheff, Chief Research and Development Officer at Kimberly-Clark, states: “This represents an exciting moonshot for Kimberly-Clark and the culmination of more than two decades of materials and plant science expertise. We have developed a highly proprietary technology platform rooted in alternative fiber research and believe that these novel natural fibers will form our next great materials platform – an innovation with the potential to reshape the hygiene category. While testing continues, we are optimistic by early results and believe these materials will provide curve-bending performance in our products while strengthening our long-term growth and supply chain resilience and accelerating our journey toward a future less dependent on traditional fiber sources.”

The company is confident that its alternative natural fiber has the potential to be integrated across its myriad hygiene products, boosting its efforts to deliver consumer-inspired, science-driven innovation, strengthening its long-term fiber supply resilience, and, ultimately, advancing responsible stewardship of natural resources for the future.

LONG-TERM FIBER SUPPLY RESILIENCE

Kimberly-Clark’s alternative natural fiber program showcases its consumer-led innovation model, which highlights making strategic investments in disruptive technologies. The goal of this initiative is to deliver the best product at the lowest cost, while upholding responsible stewardship of the resources essential to Kimberly-Clark’s offerings.

The company anticipates that the products developed using this technology will support its strategy of focusing on higher-value, differentiated spaces where it has the right to win.

“Kimberly-Clark is at its best when we harness the power of science to solve real human needs and deliver Better Care for a Better World. Our alternative natural fiber program is an example of our Powering Care strategy in motion and how we are pushing the boundaries of what we can deliver to consumers to meaningfully enhance how they experience products they rely on every day. We are energized by all the ways this promising innovation can reset the standards in our product categories, while delivering the care consumers seek from us and ongoing value to our shareholders,” states Jeff Melucci, Chief Strategy, Business Development, and Administrative Officer at Kimberly-Clark.

Specifically, the company’s research scientists identified a promising solution in hesperaloe – a native, low-water plant that thrives in the arid climate of the Southwest US – after evaluating over 70 different fiber candidates across performance, sustainability, and cost criteria.

Based in Yuma, Arizona, Kimberly-Clark’s innovation program has demonstrated that hesperaloe and its proprietary technologies result in a rapidly renewable natural fiber source that carries the performance and quality standards that consumers have come to expect from the company and its trusted brands. This foundation for a high-performance, sustainable materials platform highlights the company’s commitment to its ‘Better Care for a Better World’.

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CORPORATE EMISSIONS REPORTING

Designed to produce defensible, auditable estimates across providers and use cases, Watershed – the trusted platform for sustainability artificial intelligence (AI) that delivers results – has published a comprehensive open framework for measuring corporate AI emissions.

Dr. Steve Davis from Stanford University and Dr. Sangwon Suh from Tsinghua University have consulted with Watershed to produce the framework, alongside companies Block and Okta, and the non-profit Business Council on Climate Change (BC3). Specifically, it highlights the growing gap in corporate emissions reporting, despite the rapid growth in AI adoption; no accepted methodology for measuring AI’s carbon footprint and electricity use exists.

“Since AI emissions accounting is still nascent, it has the opportunity to design for actionability from the outset, so that measurement incentivizes responsible choices during AI’s rapid buildout. This framework gives companies a defensible starting point and a shared roadmap for improving precision as provider data matures, laying the groundwork for emissions and reductions,” states Dr. John Bistline, Head of Science at Watershed.

Within the published framework, there are three elements designed to make the measurement of AI emissions consistent and actionable. The first comprises a comprehensive system boundary that includes model training, inference, data center overhead, and embodied hardware. The second is a functional unit that aligns with the metric companies already track for cost management. The final is a three-tier calculation approach that aligns with companies’ data quality.

REDUCING AI EMISSIONS

Watershed is an internationally trusted platform that large organizations such as Airbnb, Carlyle Group, FedEx, Visa, and Dr. Martens use to measure, report, and act on their emissions. Watershed enables such companies to swiftly and confidently produce audit-ready carbon footprints that drive real reductions.

The company also provides embedded sustainability intelligence from the world’s leading climate and policy experts, allowing Watershed to be the platform of choice for organizations looking to satisfy regulatory requirements, unlock new business opportunities, and address climate-related risks.

From the company’s newly published framework, key findings include that data quality drives a roughly fourfold range in estimates. This means that for an organization spending approximately USD$100,000 annually on a frontier AI model, estimates range from 3.2 to 13.4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) depending on the calculation tier used, directly showcasing how much accuracy depends on the underlying data.

Additionally, better provider data can materially improve accuracy, with non-production benchmarks overstating inference energy by four to 20 times relative to production deployments. This framework proposes a standardized disclosure table to enable more accurate corporate reporting and encourage stakeholders to collaborate. Finally, training emissions are the largest source of uncertainty, dependent on assumptions about total lifetime usage – a parameter that no frontier provider discloses in the current market.

The published framework also identifies practical levers for reducing AI emissions, such as model selection, region selection, and prompt optimization. Ultimately, this is the first in a series of resources that Watershed is releasing to advance AI emissions measurement and support sustainability data science across the entire industry.

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osapiens Expands Compliance and Supply Chain Platform

osapiens has completed the acquisition of the Nasdaq Metrio platform and its customer base as it looks to expand its artificial intelligence (AI)-driven compliance, sustainability reporting and supplier intelligence capabilities.

Nasdaq Metrio provides enterprise non-financial reporting and carbon accounting software, supporting frameworks and requirements including California climate disclosure laws, CDP, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards.

The acquisition will integrate these capabilities more closely with the osapiens HUB, which brings together supply chain compliance, supplier intelligence, traceability, carbon accounting and reporting.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Connecting Sustainability and Supply Chain Data

A key focus of the acquisition is reducing the need for businesses to repeatedly collect the same sustainability and supplier information for different reporting and compliance requirements.

osapiens said customers will be able to collect data once and reuse it across regulatory compliance, supply chain requirements and carbon accounting initiatives.

The company expects this approach, combined with greater use of AI and automation, to reduce manual processes and duplicate data collection while improving supplier response rates.

For procurement and supply chain teams, the platform’s capabilities extend beyond sustainability disclosure into areas including product compliance, supplier intelligence and product traceability.

Matthias Jungblut, Co-CEO of osapiens, said: “More than 2,500 customers already run and automate their compliance processes and conduct supplier intelligence on the osapiens HUB, with non-financial reporting and carbon accounting being centrally integrated.”

“With the acquisition of the Nasdaq Metrio platform and customers, we are now able to further deepen our functionalities to offer even greater value to our customers. At the same time, it allows us to accelerate our entry into the U.S. market.”

Carbon Accounting Capabilities Strengthened

Nasdaq Metrio brings established carbon accounting and non-financial reporting capabilities to the combined platform.

Its audit-grade data management is designed to help businesses maintain reliable information for disclosures as regulatory requirements evolve.

Integrating these capabilities with supplier and supply chain data could allow businesses to manage carbon reporting alongside wider compliance and operational requirements rather than through separate systems.

The acquisition comes as osapiens continues to develop its HUB as a single platform for businesses to manage supplier relationships, regulatory obligations and global supply chain data.

Acquisition Accelerates US Expansion

The deal also provides osapiens with a larger foothold in North America, where the majority of Nasdaq Metrio’s enterprise customers are based.

Michael Bartels, Senior Vice President, Capital Access Platforms at Nasdaq, said: “The Nasdaq Metrio platform has become a leader for non-financial reporting and carbon accounting in North America.”

“With osapiens, we have found a partner for Nasdaq Metrio that will ensure that customers continue to be served by a platform with the strategic focus and comprehensive capabilities that will meet their needs today and into the future.”

Nasdaq said the transaction will allow it to concentrate on investor relations and governance solutions for listed and corporate clients.

osapiens Builds Scale in Supplier Intelligence

The acquisition follows a recent investment round led by Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between BlackRock and Temasek, which resulted in osapiens reaching unicorn status. The company is also backed by Goldman Sachs.

More than 2,500 businesses currently use the osapiens HUB, which comprises more than 25 solutions organised into seven product suites.

The company said the combination with Nasdaq Metrio will strengthen its ability to connect sustainability reporting and carbon accounting with the supplier, product and traceability data businesses increasingly need to manage supply chain risk and compliance.

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