SBTi approves Vičiūnai Group's near-term climate targets – another step towards reducing climate impact
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, affecting not only the environment but also business resilience, food systems, and the reliability of global supply chains.
As the food industry and agriculture are closely linked to climate change, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become an integral part of a long-term business strategy.
As part of its contribution to global climate action, Vičiūnai Group has reached an important milestone: the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated the company's near-term science-based greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
This validation confirms that Vičiūnai Group's near-term climate targets have been assessed and approved in accordance with the SBTi criteria and are aligned with the latest climate science.
Why does this matter?
Today, the SBTi is widely recognized as one of the leading global standards for validating corporate climate targets. International retailers, business partners, investors and financial institutions increasingly expect companies to support their climate commitments with independently validated, science-based targets rather than voluntary declarations.
More than 11,200 companies worldwide have already validated science-based targets. In Lithuania, only around 20 companies have validated targets, with just three operating in the food and beverage processing sector. This demonstrates that SBTi-validated targets remain the choice of a relatively small number of leading businesses, and Vičiūnai Group has now joined this select group of Lithuanian companies aligning their climate commitments with internationally recognized scientific criteria.
"Validation of our SBTi targets is not the finish line - it is the beginning of a long-term commitment. Science-based climate targets are becoming increasingly important for our customers, business partners and international retail chains. We aim to be among the companies that proactively drive change rather than simply respond to it," says Šarūnas Matijošaitis, CEO of Vičiūnai Group.
Validated targets for 2030
Compared with the 2023 base year, Vičiūnai Group commits to:
- reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 35.7%;
- reduce the Scope 3 emissions intensity associated with purchased goods and services by 51.6% per tonne of purchased products;
- reduce absolute Scope 3 FLAG (Forest, Land and Agriculture) emissions by 21.2%;
- ensure that by 27 March 2028, no deforestation occurs across primary deforestation-linked commodity categories.
Achieving climate targets through tangible investments
The targets validated by the SBTi are supported by investments that are already being implemented today to steadily reduce Vičiūnai Group's climate impact.
One of the company's key priorities is the transition to renewable electricity. Currently, approximately 85% of the electricity consumed across the Group comes from renewable sources. To further strengthen energy independence and reduce CO₂ emissions, the company is actively investing in wind energy projects, which will become one of the Group's primary sources of green electricity in the future.
At the same time, Vičiūnai Group continues to expand its solar energy projects. The company's own solar power plants already contribute to meeting its electricity demand while reducing dependence on external energy sources.
Another key priority is improving manufacturing efficiency. Energy-saving technologies, advanced automation solutions, waste heat recovery systems and other innovative technologies are being implemented to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per unit of production.
Our new salmon processing facility – a flagship sustainability project
The clearest example of Vičiūnai Group's climate ambitions is the new salmon processing complex currently under construction in Plungė, Lithuania. From the earliest design stage, it has been developed as one of the Group's most advanced and sustainable production facilities.
The new facility will incorporate modern energy-efficient technologies, a high level of automation, waste heat recovery systems and extensive integration of renewable energy sources. These solutions are designed to reduce energy consumption and direct greenhouse gas emissions.
"This project perfectly reflects our approach to sustainability. Production growth and climate objectives can go hand in hand. By expanding our production capacity, we are also building a more modern, efficient and environmentally responsible food industry for the future," says Šarūnas Matijošaitis.
A responsible approach to long-term commitments
When beginning the SBTi process, Vičiūnai Group initially planned to register both its near-term targets and a long-term science-based net-zero commitment. However, during the assessment process, the company decided to postpone this step because, unlike its near-term targets, it does not yet have sufficient evidence and assumptions to responsibly commit to a long-term emissions reduction pathway.
"Today, our priority is delivering on the targets that have been validated and achieving measurable results. Our net-zero ambition remains unchanged—we have not abandoned this objective. However, we want to take this step only when we have sufficient data, robust assumptions and confidence that we can successfully deliver on our long-term commitments," says Emilija Jelisejevienė, Sustainability Manager at Vičiūnai Group.
The targets validated by the SBTi provide a long-term direction for Viciunai Group as it continues investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing technologies, while building a more competitive and sustainable food industry for the future.