WHAT IS NET ZERO?
Net zero emissions means reducing greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with all remaining emissions being taken out of the atmosphere via credible methods.
Net Zero
McCormick's scope 1, 2 (GHG emissions that a company can control) and 3 (GHG emissions that occur from sources not owned or controlled by a company) emissions goals have been validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a non-governmental organization that validates greenhouse gas reduction goals to ensure they are in line with the latest climate science. These targets align with the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 1.5°C and require McCormick to achieve a 42% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. These near-term targets are the first step towards our long-term target to achieve net zero by 2050.
Our Journey to Net Zero
SCOPE 1 & 2: OUR OPERATIONS
To help use our resources more efficiently, waste less, and reduce our impact on climate change, McCormick has completed multiple LEED Certification projects.
McCormick has also implemented renewable energy initiatives, like the Skipjack Solar Power Project in Virginia, which will provide 100 percent renewable electricity for our Maryland and New Jersey-based facilities and the 200 MW Big Star Solar Project, currently under development in Bastrop County, Texas.
Global Headquarters
McCormick’s global headquarters in Hunt Valley, MD is LEED Gold-certified and was constructed in 2018 to replace three smaller buildings with one new green building that has already significantly lowered our energy and water usage. The construction used locally sourced materials and the building has many sustainable features, including a green roof, chemical-free furniture made of recycled material, and a centralized waste management system.
Amata, Thailand
Our LEED Silver-certified manufacturing facility in Thailand’s Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate uses 100 percent LED lighting, highly efficient utilities, and distribution systems that are optimized to reduce losses. The plant was also constructed sustainably, with a construction waste diversion rate of 90 percent.
Maryland Logistics Center
Our Maryland Logistics Center (MLC) is at the forefront of innovation through supply chain modernization and optimization. Spanning over 1,800,000 square feet, the building is LEED Gold certified and has recently received approval to install a 2MW rooftop solar array. The mechanical systems include a high efficiency chiller/boiler plant for air conditioning and heating, high volume low velocity fans and a high-speed variable air compressor plant. The lighting design for the building includes 100% LED fixtures and optimized lighting controls. The high efficiency chiller plant and high efficiency water fixtures significantly reduce water consumption within the building.
Peterborough, UK
In Peterborough, UK, McCormick's most recent manufacturing site used the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, utilizing a methodology of building less, building clever, and building efficiently. McCormick’s actions have reduced the site’s construction carbon emissions by 38 percent from an estimated 72,000,000 lbs CO2 eq. initial baseline figure to the final embodied carbon figure of 22,201.
SCOPE 3: INDIRECT EMISSIONS
Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition
McCormick has joined forces with other brands, including Mars and PepsiCo, to support Guidehouse in establishing the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition collaborative (S-LoCT), which officially launched in March 2021. The program is designed to mobilize collective climate action by providing suppliers with resources, tools, and knowledge to support their own climate journeys. Through S-LoCT, McCormick suppliers receive free training and mentorship on how to develop Science-Based targets and implement greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction strategies while being recognized for their achievements against these milestones. In turn, supplier progress will accelerate the ability of McCormick and the other participating brands to deliver against their own science-based targets to reduce emissions in their supply chains.
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Grown for Good
We also recognize the impact that growing our raw materials has on the environment and believe they should be produced in accordance with the highest environmental, social, and governance standards. Our Grown for Good framework promotes the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices, which are a conservation and rehabilitation approach to farming systems. We work with our in-country partners on programs focused on topsoil regeneration, increasing above and below ground soil health while maximizing water efficiency, enhancing the ecosystem and carbon sequestering.
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Sustainable Packaging
To underscore our commitment to reducing our packaging carbon footprint, we've signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. Led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, along with other companies that represent 20 percent of all plastic packaging produced globally, the commitment highlights our plastic packaging goal. The commitment will help eliminate plastic pollution at the source in support of a circular economy.
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