Encore endorsed by Science Based Targets

Encore Group has had its carbon reduction journey endorsed by Science Based Targets initiative as the only way that companies can help limit global temperature increases to the 1.5ºC set by the Paris Agreement.

“It’s something that all printers will have to do,” says Greg Selfe, managing director of consultancy Nero that has helped Encore.

“It’s the next logical step of our journey,” says Encore financial director Gary Joyce. “We have been a carbon balanced printer, offsetting emissions with the World Land Trust, and have worked with CarbonQuota to give customers a view of the carbon impact over a job or contract, offering a choice of different materials and what the effect on impact is. So it made sense to take the next step to improve on our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.”

These are the emissions that arise from energy inputs and from the operation of the business and will be the focus of the work to hit the SBTi. This is a 46% reduction compared to the 2019 base year by 2027. A switch to renewable energy, to electric vehicles instead of internal combustion engines will take the envelopes and packaging business much of the way.

“This will mean a 70-80% reducing in the carbon impact of energy and then with three or four electric vehicles will be straightforward. The next 15-20% is not so straightforward,” says Selfe.

This is also just a staging post for Encore. It is already starting to measure its scope 3 emissions, the that come from both its upstream and downstream supply chain, seeking information across 15 categories. This will allow the company to make more sustainable choices and achieve a 90% reduction in carbon by 2050 in line with national targets towards Net Zero.

This is among the most ambitious targets set and accepted by any UK company, let alone the handful in print. None is in the same sector as Encore. Joyce says: “It’s something we wanted to do to first measure Scope 1 and Scope 2 and we wanted to know the whole cradle to grave impacts. It’s something that we can provide that our competitors can’t.”

Managing director David Cooper adds: “We are thrilled to have our carbon reduction targets validated by the Science Based Target initiative. Encore prides itself on our ability to meet our customers’ needs. More than just quality and price, our customers expect the highest levels of environmental protection. With this important first step complete, our customers can be confident knowing The Encore Group can now support them on their own journeys to net zero.”