Saint-Gobain
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2022)
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:10.4 Mt CO2e (Scope 1+2) in 2020; 17.4 Mt CO2e (Scope 3) in 2020
Renewable Energy Share:1.3% in 2020
Total Energy Consumption:41,020 GWh in 2020
Water Consumption:45.4 million m3 total withdrawal in 2020; 23 million m3 total discharge in 2020
Waste Generated:1309 Mt in 2020
Carbon Intensity:0.27 kgCO2/€ sales in 2020
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Circular Economy
- Health and Safety
- Employee Engagement and Diversity
- Business Ethics
- Inclusive Growth
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced CO2 emissions by 12.2% between 2010 and 2020 (2025 target: -20%)
- Avoided extraction of 10,100,574 metric tons of virgin raw materials (sand, gypsum)
- More than 70% of sales generated through sustainable solutions
Social Achievements
- Top Employer Global certification
- CARE by Saint-Gobain social protection program launched
- Objective of more than 25% female managers reached by the end of 2020
- Accident frequency rate of 1.8
Governance Achievements
- 45% women on the Board of Directors
- 82% independent directors on the Board
- 20% ESG criteria in long-term incentive plans
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve carbon neutrality by 2050
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce carbon emissions by 33% (scope 1 and 2) in absolute terms between 2017 and 2030 (SBTi validation)
- Reduce carbon emissions by 16% (scope 3) in absolute terms between 2017 and 2030 (SBTi validation)
- Achieve 25% women senior managers by 2025
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce carbon emissions by 20% (scope 1 and 2) at iso-production by 2025 (2010 basis)
- Reduce water discharge by 80% at iso-production between 2010 and 2025
- Reduce non-recovered waste by 50% at iso-production between 2010 and 2025
Environmental Challenges
- Climate change impacts (extreme weather events, resource scarcity)
- Depletion of natural resources
- Supply chain disruptions
- Health and safety risks
- Maintaining employee engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic
Mitigation Strategies
- Roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050 with 2030 targets
- Circular economy initiatives (waste reduction, recycling)
- Operational excellence programs (WCM)
- Responsible purchasing program
- Investment in employee well-being and training
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100% of trade purchases covered by the Suppliers Charter (90.6% for non-trade purchases)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Charter
- Responsible Purchasing program
- CSR risk analysis
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events
- Flooding
- Water stress
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products and solutions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: UN Global Compact, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, ILO OSH 2001, ISO 45001
Third-party Assurance: Mazars
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 1
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 16
The report details how Saint-Gobain's activities contribute to various SDGs through its value chain and initiatives.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Insulation solutions
- Energy-efficient building materials
Awards & Recognition
- Top Employer Global
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:39568848 tCO2e/year (Scope 1+2+3)
Scope 1 Emissions:8396326 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:1406043 tCO2e/year (market-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:29766479 tCO2e/year
Total Energy Consumption:41854429 MWh/year
Carbon Intensity:0.0001915 tCO2e/€ (Scope 1+2 market-based)
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Biodiversity
- Circular Economy
Environmental Achievements
- First worldwide zero-carbon glass production (Scopes 1 & 2) in France using 100% recycled glass, biogas, and renewable electricity.
- First zero-carbon plasterboard plant (Scopes 1 & 2) in North America (Montreal) announced.
- Reduced raw material consumption by more than 25% at Huntsville site, reducing Scope 3 emissions by nearly 4700 tonnes CO2eq.
- Eliminated fossil fuels from Scanpac factories in Sweden by switching to electric heating and forklifts and installing solar panels.
Social Achievements
- Launched an internal pilot Carbon Fund in 2021 to accelerate the reduction of non-industrial CO2 emissions through employee actions and investments.
- Annual Emerald Awards reward Saint-Gobain sites for environmental projects, including climate change initiatives.
Governance Achievements
- Board-level oversight of climate-related issues, with regular training sessions for directors on climate risks and related topics.
- CEO compensation linked to CO2 emissions reduction objectives (Scopes 1 & 2) in 2023.
- Short-term and long-term incentive plans for Group officers and employees include CO2 emissions reduction objectives.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Net-zero emissions by 2050.
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce CO2 emissions by 33% (Scopes 1+2) by 2030 compared to 2017.
- Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 16% by 2030 compared to 2017.
- Increase share of sustainable products in total sales to 75% by 2025.
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce water consumption by 50% in 2030 compared to 2017.
Environmental Challenges
- Increased indirect costs from carbon pricing mechanisms (EU ETS).
- Increased direct costs from increased energy and raw material prices.
- Decreased revenues due to reduced production capacity from acute physical risks (flooding).
Mitigation Strategies
- Ambitious carbon targets (2030 SBT of -33% for 2030 vs 2017 for scope 1+2), reducing exposure to carbon pricing.
- €100M annual budget for CAPEX and R&D investments in low-carbon technologies.
- Internal shadow carbon price for investment and R&D decisions.
- Annual assessment and revision of exposure to acute physical climate-related risks through local audits and self-assessments.
- Group Loss Prevention Manual and Business Continuity Plans for each facility.
- Risk and Insurance department manages risks of property damage and business interruption.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 100 audits per year for low initial CSR performance suppliers
Responsible Procurement
- Responsible Purchasing Charter
- R-Net online platform for supplier engagement
- Climate-related disclosure requirements for suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Flooding
- Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
- Carbon pricing mechanisms
- Increased energy and raw material costs
- Changes in regulation
Opportunities
- Increased demand for sustainable products
- Development of low-carbon products
- Improved energy efficiency
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Greenhouse Gas Protocol
Third-party Assurance: Compagnie Nationale des Commissaires aux Comptes (CNCC), ISAE3000
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- ORAÉ low-carbon glass
- Building insulation solutions
- Lightweight automotive windshields
Awards & Recognition
- World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) David Gottfried prize