Elevate Textiles Receives Validation of Science-Based Targets

Elevate Textiles, a global product and textile solutions provider, announces it has become the first global textile manufacturer to receive validation of its Science Based Target (SBTi) goals related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the highest levels recommended.

As part of its commitment, Elevate recently increased its original greenhouse gas emission reduction target from 2.5% to 4.2% per year across its portfolio brands of American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann, and Safety Components.

According to the company, A&E is the first thread manufacturer to receive approved targets; Burlington is the first performance woven fabrics manufacturer to receive approved targets, and Cone Denim is the first denim mill to receive approved targets.

“Gaining approval of our Science Based Targets is a milestone in our sustainability journey,” says Jimmy Summers, chief sustainability officer. “Our efforts to reduce scope one, two, and three emissions will also reduce our customers’ scope three emissions. This collaborative effort is not only good for our brands and our customers but also strengthens Elevate’s joint commitment to responsible and sustainable production worldwide.”

SBTi goals

Elevate first joined the SBTi in September 2019 and began work on evaluating and setting aggressive scope one and two greenhouse gas emission goals as part of its overall 2025 sustainability commitments. Since that time, the company has furthered its commitment by joining the Business Ambition 1.5°C campaign and assessing emissions reduction targets across the entire value chain.

Elevate’s approved targets include:

• A 46.2% reduction in absolute scope one and scope two greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from a 2019 baseline
• A 46.2% reduction in several scope three categories — purchased goods and services, processing of sold products, and fuel and energy-related emissions — within the same timeline
• A long-term target to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050

Science-based targets

Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. According to SBTi, its initiative champions science-based target setting as a powerful way of boosting companies’ competitive advantage in the transition to a low-carbon economy. It is a collaboration between CDP, World Resources Institute (WRI), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).