Orkla among the best in the world for climate change leadership

One step up from last year and a top score. The investor initiative CDP ranks Orkla among the best listed companies when it comes to climate change leadership.

A total of 9,526 companies around the world responded to CDP’s climate change questionnaire. Orkla was awarded the top score of A, which places it among the 270 best companies. That is a cut above last year’s rating when Orkla scored A-. Eight other Norwegian companies received top marks.

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of our most important environmental tasks. Orkla employees are deeply committed to these efforts, and we are both pleased and proud of CDP’s recognition of our performance. We will continue our work and shoulder our share of responsibility for contributing to solving the climate change challenges,” says Jaan Ivar Semlitsch, Orkla President and CEO.

Sees risk and opportunities

Senior Vice President EHS Inger Johanne Eikeland at Orkla is also delighted.

“This is very gratifying and the result of long-term, intensive efforts in every part of Orkla.”

Eikeland says that in the past year, Orkla has concentrated even more specifically on understanding risk and opportunities in climate change work. Orkla’s focus on plant-based products, for example, is an important initiative based on these assessments.

“It’s a question not only of securing our competitive situation in the future, but also of selling products that have a minimal climate impact,” says Eikeland.

Greenhouse gas emissions halved

Orkla has reported to CDP since 2008, a practice that has helped to spur Orkla to set increasingly ambitious goals and continuously develop its climate change strategy to meet the demands and expectations of the rest of the world.

Since 2014. Orkla has more than halved its greenhouse gas emissions. All Orkla companies and factories work resolutely to reduce their energy consumption and increase the proportion of renewable energy used, ensure optimal resource utilisation and reduce food waste. Sustainable innovations are high on the agenda at Orkla, which has launched plant-based alternatives to meat and a wide range of products with a reduced environmental footprint.

The gold standard

This has not escaped CDP’s notice. Their annual scoring system is held to be the gold standard of corporate environmental reporting. The CDP uses a detailed, independent methodology to determine companies’ scores based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and good climate leadership in the form of ambitious and meaningful targets.

According to Paul Simpson, CEO of CDP, the private sector must lead the way if the global ambition of a sustainable economy is to become a reality.

“Our A List celebrates those companies who are preparing themselves to excel in the economy of the future by taking action today,” he says.

Only the beginning

The top score awarded to Orkla by CDP will be a strong incitement in the company’s further efforts.

“The food industry accounts for one fourth of the entire world’s greenhouse gas emissions. As a major player in many countries, it is important that Orkla continue to take the lead in this work. CDP’s recognition of our efforts will be highly motivating in our future work,” Eikeland concludes.

See the list of all the companies featured on the CDP’s A List here: https://www.cdp.net/en/companies/companies-scores