Hochland joins the Science Based Targets initiative

Hochland Deutschland GmbH (Heimenkirch/Allgäu) and the French Fromagerie Henri Hutin (Dieue-sur-Meuse/Lorraine) are two subsidiaries of Hochland SE that have joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). In doing so, both companies commit to reducing their carbon footprint by 2035 in such a way that they demonstrably contribute to limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. This is in line with the international Paris Agreement on climate change agreed in December 2015.

Over 1,000 companies worldwide have joined the SBTi so far. Hochland is the first company in the German dairy industry to commit to this path. By joining on a voluntary basis, the cheese producer shows that its ambitious climate strategy is based on science, with targets and measures that can be verified by everyone.

For Hochland, this is a logical step on the path to climate neutrality for its production sites and products which the company launched in 2019: Retroactively from 2018, Hochland Germany is having unavoidable CO2 emissions from the Heimenkirch, Schongau and Dieue-sur-Meuse sites offset elsewhere on the globe, with the help of partners. To this end, Hochland participates in reforestation projects. The compensation payments amounted to approximately 140,000 euros in the first year 2018. In addition, Hochland continues to work on avoiding or reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol).

Now the cheese manufacturer is venturing on the ambitious task of formulating CO2 reduction targets for all business activities along the value chain, i.e. also for raw materials, logistics as well as activities of all employees such as mobility and nutrition (Scope 3). The climate targets are to be achieved by 2035. The entire process is accompanied by SBTi experts and the achievement of the targets is evaluated and published at the end.

The Science Based Targets initiative is a partnership between the non-profit organisation Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). More about SBTi at: https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action/

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is a set of rules for recording climate balances. It distinguishes between direct CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and indirect emissions (Scope 3).

Scope 1 emissions originate from sources within the company, e.g. production.

Scope 2 emissions arise from the generation of energy (electricity and heat) that is purchased from outside. 

Scope 3 emissions are all other emissions that are caused by the company's activities, but are not under the control of the company. They arise, for example, from suppliers, service providers or employees. 

Hochland Deutschland GmbH and Fromagerie Henri Hutin are subsidiaries of Hochland SE. The plant of the French subsidiary in Dieue-sur-Meuse, Lorraine, belongs organisationally to Hochland Deutschland GmbH.

Here you will find the press release for download.