Procter & Gamble is among seven global companies joining forces to realise net zero ambitions.
A new initiative, led by Science Group Sustainability, also brought together R&D and science and technology leadership from PepsiCo and Mars, as well as packaging specialist Amcor, Bayer's crop science division and chemicals firms Stepan Company and Solvay.
The group are said to have met regularly over a 12-month period as part of a Science Group Sustainability CTO Forum to develop key principles to enable material progress on carbon reduction.
Ten principles were identified to help those involved journey towards net zero, including articulating carbon and other sustainability themes as distinct but related issues, and ensuring carbon impact is part of any conversation about innovation.
“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is complex and brings immense technical challenges,” said Michael Zeitlyn, President of Advisory Services at Science Group Sustainability.
“Innovation has a vital role to play, but it can’t go far enough in isolation. We need to see strategic alignment across multiple business functions, from R&D and product stewardship to procurement and compliance departments.
“We are all on a journey to net zero, and it’s going to be tough, but we can achieve more when we work together.”
One member of the forum added that tackling climate change was “a marathon not a sprint”.“Whilst net zero goals and pledges may stretch beyond our personal tenure, we must own the problem,” they added.
“We need to reach significant milestones in the short term and not trust that technological advances will ‘find a way’ in the long term.”
Beyond Science Group Sustainability’s net zero forum, recent months have seen an uptick in talent from major beauty and FMCG players teaming up to realise wider sustainability goals.
The EcoBeautyScore Consortium recently gathered 36 beauty industry heavyweights, including L’Oréal, Amorepacific and Unilever, to create an environmental scoring system and product search tool.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Sustainable Beauty Coalition (SBC) was formed by the British Beauty Council last year to create stronger frameworks and policies for the beauty sector, with representatives including Avon, Lush and Holland & Barrett.