The Wendy’s Company announced near-term, science-based targets to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 47% by 2030 across its global System. The goals, which were recently approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), underscore Wendy’s® commitment to transparency and mitigating its climate impact.
Wendy’s Near-Term Science-Based Targets Compared to a 2019 base year, by 2030, Wendy’s goal is to reduce:
- Absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 47%
- Scope 3 GHG emissions intensity by 47% per metric ton of purchased goods
- Scope 3 GHG emissions intensity by 47% per franchise restaurant
To make these meaningful cuts, Wendy’s will work throughout its System, including Company operations, and cooperatively with franchisees and suppliers, to turn commitment into action. Wendy’s estimates that achieving the goal would avoid approximately 7.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent compared to business as usual, which is equal to removing more than 1.5 million gas-powered vehicles from the road in a single year.
“We recognize our role in using resources and energy, and we continue to prioritize delivering more to our customers with a smaller environmental footprint,” said Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer Liliana Esposito. “With our newly validated science-based targets, we have completed our climate roadmap nearly a year ahead of schedule, accelerating our journey to mitigate our climate impact.”
Wendy’s Scope 1 and 2 science-based target aims to reduce emissions within Company operations at a pace consistent with keeping warming below 1.5°C, which aligns to the latest science, based on findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This designation is the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi’s validation process, which aims to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
“Today, Wendy’s joins the growing list of companies with science-based targets consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” said Luiz Amaral, Chief Executive Officer of the Science Based Targets initiative. “We now need more corporate actors to set ambitious targets like Wendy’s.”
Through the process of setting its Scope 3 science-based targets, Wendy’s identified two areas of focus for emissions reductions: purchased goods and franchised restaurants. Purchased goods, such as food and packaging, represent nearly 85% of the System’s Scope 3 emissions, while Wendy’s more than 6,500 franchised restaurants contribute approximately 10% of Scope 3 emissions. Collaboration throughout the Wendy’s value chain will be critical to achieving its Scope 3 targets, which are aligned to SBTi’s well below 2°C criteria.
