Sage, a leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), has confirmed its net-zero targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Sage’s net-zero targets span all three emission scopes, aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the value chain by 2040. As of the issuing of this press release, there were just over 3100 companies globally with an approved net-zero target, making Sage an early responder in business' fight against climate change.
To achieve its net-zero goals, Sage has already committed to a 50% reduction in Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030 against a 2019 baseline, in line with the goals of the Paris agreement of 2015 – these near-term targets were approved by SBTi in 2023.
Science Based Target Performance
The SBTi is a collaboration between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and one of the We Means Business Coalition commitments. It defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets.
Sage is hoping to make progress in four specific target areas:
Sustainable supply chain: To manage emissions across its value chain, Sage is requesting its suppliers to disclose accurate and verified primary emissions data allocated to Sage via CDP. It is also engaging with suppliers with the highest emissions to secure reduction commitments from them, and asking suppliers without Science-Based Targets (SBTs) to set one. Lastly, Sage is guiding its SMB suppliers on steps they can take to measure and reduce their own emissions.
Sustainable colleague behavior: One of Sage’s goals is to empower its colleagues to be
agents of change on its net-zero journey. The company has launched plans to improve climate awareness and action amongst colleagues, such as launching a carbon literacy program, to influence positive action.
Sustainable products: In addition to educating colleagues, Sage will educate customers about the environmental impacts of technology usage – for example, the benefits of choosing to host products and services within efficient cloud environments. The company is also working to provide information and tools so businesses can measure, monitor and reduce the carbon impact of their work, with Sage Earth being a first step in that direction.
Sustainable property: Lastly, Sage will examine its property impact, such as the energy and carbon performance of its work-spaces, especially in a hybrid work environment. Currently, 68% of its global electricity consumption is sourced from renewable energy (against a 2019 baseline of 27%), which Sage wants to build on.
Climate Ambitions
Sage’s climate ambitions have been recognized by The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a global non-prophet that runs the world’s leading environmental disclosure platform. CDP awarded Sage an A- leadership rating for setting high-quality best practices around environmental transparency, and performance in the fight against climate change. Sage also received an A- rating for its work in supplier engagement -- encouraging suppliers to take action to reduce their emissions-- which is factored into the overall score.
A leadership rating is only awarded to organizations that show environmental leadership and disclose action on climate change. According to the CDP, Sage’s A- rating is higher than the current European average of B, and higher than the IT & software development sector average of C.
Notably, Sage was one of 13% of companies in the IT and software services category, to receive a leadership rating. David Harrop, Climate Director at Sage said: "The fight to keep the rise in temperatures at 1.5C is critical, and one we’re committed to. Not only are we trying to ensure Sage is a leader in the fight against climate change, we also want to share our learning and successes with our wide ecosystem of customers, suppliers and partners to help progress amongst our stakeholders. The validation from SBTi and CDP, two organizations guiding corporate sustainability action, is very welcome as a much-needed vote of confidence that we’re on the right track.”
To read more about Sage’s sustainability efforts, including its Sustainability & Society strategy, please visit: Sustainability and society | Commitment and plans | Sage UK.