Ingredients group ofi celebrates attaining key science-based targets standards

Global ingredients group ofi has moved to enhance environmental performance, as its climate targets are validated by the influential Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), writes Neill Barston.

The company, which has traded in a number of key segments, including moving into cocoa in the early 1990s, has continued to evolve its journey of performance since becoming a distinct business from Singapore-headquartered parent company, Olam.

As the business noted gaining the SBTi recognition is considered as being the gold standard in climate targets – linked to the Paris agreement seeking to limit the rise in worldwide temperatures to 1.5°C. It remains an ambitious target that recent international conferences including COP 29 held in Azerbaijan last November, believed should be upheld, but faces major threats as some major global powers have taken issue with the policy, including the US, which has filed to remove itself from the key environmental initiative.

However, there remains a broad international consensus for pursuing climate reduction, with ofi stating its commitment to delivering verifiable, low-carbon products and solutions to its customers at leading food
and beverage companies, who face growing consumer demand for
sustainable products and stringent sustainability regulations.

Roel van Poppel, Chief Sustainability Officer at ofi, welcomed its latest status with the SBTi. He said: “We’re proving our commitment to building a sustainable future by letting the science dictate our course of action. With sourcing and manufacturing of ingredients a major contributor to our customers’ carbon footprints, this validation of our climate targets gives our customers confidence we can partner with them on their decarbonisation journeys.

He added: “Rapid and deep emission cuts are required across the
sector to achieve a net-zero food system before 2050. SBTi validation makes
us accountable and positions us as the partner of choice for customers also
aiming for real change and transparent reporting in their supply chains.”
For more information on ofi’s climate action targets, please visit our
Sustainability page.”

As ofi noted, its climate action targets are part of its Choices for Change sustainability strategy and include a science-based target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by 2050. Its near-term targets, with 2020 as a base year.

This includes a 50% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, addressing emissions within ofi’s own operations and energy use.

In addition it its targeting a 30% reduction in absolute Scope 3 emissions by 2030, covering indirect emissions from purchased goods, energy activities, transportation, and waste, and 30% reductions in emissions from forestry, land use and agriculture.

Furthermore, the company has confirmed additional targets includes investment and innovation, such as mplementing fuel switching and purchasing renewable electricity to reduce emissions, which
led to a 7% drop in 2024. Moreover, it has initiated  twenty-four decarbonisation projects, with customers and partners driving GHG reductions and removals on farms through climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry and deforestation. 

The business also used last month’s New York Climate Week, alongside the the World Conservation Society, PepsiCo and other industry leaders to discuss how aligning such efforts under shared frameworks for action and measurement can drive further emissions reductions.