Clorox Aligns ESG Goals With Paris Agreement And Science-Based Targets

The Clorox Company (Clorox) announced new science-based targets (SBTs) as part of its climate strategy, which will put the company on a path to net-zero emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2050. By 2030, Clorox aims to reduce carbon emissions across its operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 50% and pledges to reduce its value chain emissions (Scope 3) from its purchased goods and services and use of sold products by 25%, all on an absolute basis against a 2020 baseline.

Clorox’s SBTs are in line with the Paris Agreement and have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, a partnership that defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses company targets. “As a health and wellness company at heart, we recognize that the long-term well-being of future generations depends on the health of our planet,” said Linda Rendle, CEO of Clorox. “Taking decisive climate action is essential to protecting our planet and communities and demonstrates our commitment to our purpose – to champion people to be well and thrive. We have strong aspirations for decarbonizing our business as we accelerate our growth agenda for long-term value creation for all stakeholders.”

These new targets advance Clorox’s IGNITE strategy, which was introduced in 2019 to drive growth and create value for both shareholders and society. IGNITE is grounded in strategic choices and ESG goals focused on Clorox’s strategic pillars, where the company believes it can have the greatest impact. The pillars are healthy lives, clean world, and thriving communities.

• Healthy Lives: Improving people’s health and well-being through initiatives such as promoting employee safety, advancing product stewardship, and innovating wellness products.
• Clean World: Fighting climate change and eliminating plastic and other waste.
• Thriving Communities: Investing in employees and communities to contribute to a more equitable world.

Clorox’s approach to meeting its climate commitments include maintaining its use of 100% renewable electricity for United States and Canada operations – first achieved in January 2021 – to address Scopes 1 and 2 emissions. Clorox’s Scopes 1 and 2 targets are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C, the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement (see “Fahrenheit 2.7: A World Worth Retiring In,” Third Quarter 2021 ESG Review, p. 2).

The majority of the company’s carbon footprint comes from Scope 3 emissions, which Clorox expects to address by prioritizing emissions reductions. It will incorporate climate considerations into purchased goods and services, reduce virgin material, and increase the use of post-consumer recycled content in packaging and innovate to reduce the carbon footprint of products. Clorox’s target for the emissions from its value chain (Scope 3) meet its criteria for ambitious value chain goals, meaning they are in line with current best practice.

“We are proud to announce these ambitious new targets as part of our commitment to reducing Clorox’s carbon footprint,” said Ed Huber, Clorox’s chief sustainability officer. “When we first introduced our IGNITE strategy, we took the important step of embedding ESG goals into our choices to help ensure that our decision making and growth plans are consistent with our low-carbon vision. Today’s commitments are important steps in our journey to delivering growth in a responsible and sustainable way.”