KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell parent company Yum! Brands announced today new environmentalEnvironmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. More sustainability goals aiming to reduce emissions across the company’s 50,000 corporate and franchise restaurants and throughout its supply chain.
David Gibbs, Yum! Brands CEO, said:
“Climate change is one of the top priorities of our Recipe for Good strategy, and we’re investing significantly in sustainable growth to address this issue by working closely with our brands, franchisees and suppliers. We believe in the collective power of Yum! and our brands to make a positive impact, and that holds true when it comes to creating a healthier future for our customers, communities and the environment.”
The company’s new targets include cutting GHG emissions generated by its corporate restaurants and offices, (Scope 1 and 2), and by 46% below 2019 levels by 2030, and to work alongside franchisees, suppliers and producers to match the 46% reduction in the same timeframe in its Scope 3 emissions, on a per-restaurant basis for franchisees and a per-metric ton basis for beef, poultry, dairy and packaging. The company has also committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
Jerilan Greene, Yum! Global Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, and Chairman and CEO of the Yum! Foundation, said:
“Building resilient and trusted brands is at the core of Yum!’s citizenship and sustainability strategy, and this includes the work we do around the sustainable stewardship of our planet. We have an opportunity to help advance the global climate agenda, and we’re proud to play a role in shaping the path ahead.”
Yum! Outlined several of the initiatives it is undertaking in order to achieve its sustainability commitments, including investing in green buildings, accelerating the use of renewable energy at its restaurants and corporate offices, and joining the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA), an alliance of large energy buyers, energy providers and service providers aiming to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon energy future.
The company’s new climate commitments have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as being consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5ºC, in line with SBTi’s most stringent category.
Jon Hixson, Yum! Global Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Government Affairs, said:
“Our new climate commitments set Yum! on an accelerated path when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint and bringing forward sustainable solutions to address climate change for our global system and the broader restaurant industry. Our primary focus on this journey is to find innovative and cost-effective measures for restaurants and the supply chain that enable sustainability goals.”
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