Alpkit announces emission reduction targets and vision to help limit global warming

Plans approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

UK outdoor specialist Alpkit has unveiled new science-based targets to reduce its absolute emissions by 46% from pre-pandemic levels. The certified B Corp will also reduce value chain impacts by committing to a ‘per item’ reduction in emissions from raw materials, production, transport, care and ultimately recycling.

The new targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are aligned to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as envisioned by the Paris Agreement. The SBTI is a collaboration of world-leading environmental organisations: CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).

Alpkit is committing to do this by 2025, five years ahead of the SBTi deadline. The company plans to achieve this through:

• Choosing lower impact materials
• Using renewable energy throughout the supply chain (Alpkit’s own transport fleet is moving to fully electric)
• Products that are purposeful and long-lasting
• Products that are repairable and ultimately recyclable

Alpkit CEO, David Hanney, commented, “I’m delighted that the SBTI has approved our carbon emissions target and confirmed that it aligns with limiting global warming to a 1.5°C scenario. We are fully committed to playing our part in tackling the climate crisis.

“Over the last 18 months we have all spent a great deal of time in our local green spaces and discovered the incredibly diverse beauty that this island has to offer. However, we are at risk of taking this beauty for granted. It’s time to give back and tread more lightly on our environment. We must actively reduce and reuse. We must pick up the litter, mend the wall, repair the path, plant the trees, use renewable energy. We must make a mark and leave the world in a slightly better place.”

Alpkit became a certified B Corp in September 2020 with a score of 95 and last year also became the first UK outdoor brand to publish a comprehensive Sustainability Report.

In 2020 they demonstrated how they put people and planet before profit by:

• Pivoting Alpkit Foundation, the company’s independent charity set up to remove barriers to getting outdoors and experiencing wild places, to direct support towards food projects in lockdown. Alpkit Foundation has now awarded £300,000 to 900 projects involving over 15,000 people.
• Increasing pay rates for all employees, in the midst of lockdown, and becoming formally recognised as a Living Wage Foundation employer
• Reducing their carbon intensity and offsetting Scope 1 and 2 to net-zero greenhouse gases.

In 2021 Alpkit will:

• Catch up, when travel is permitted, on their programme of personal environmental reviews at their mills and factories, including deeper lifecycle analysis
• Restart their School of Adventure events programme for a more accessible and inclusive outdoors with a range of open courses to build outdoor skills and confidence
• Relaunch their team adventure training and face-to-face training programmes to develop career skills and opportunities at Alpkit.

Find out more at https://alpkit.com/sustainability

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Editors notes

Alpkit was started in 2004, founded on the belief that it’s possible to make gear that works harder and costs less. It’s the only UK brand to sell equipment for running, hiking, climbing, camping, swimming and biking.

Alpkit makes products in the UK in its own factory in Nottingham. There are six Alpkit stores in Hathersage, Ambleside, Keswick, Metrocentre, Betws y Coed and Edinburgh, with two more due to open this summer.

The website has won “Best Online Retailer” as voted by the readers of TGO magazine for six out of the last seven years.

Alpkit puts on events – all stores host talks, rides and runs and every year Alpkit puts on the Big Shakeout, where 1000 people gather together for a weekend of adventure and entertainment.

1% of all sales goes to Alpkit Foundation, Alpkit’s independent charity set up to remove barriers to getting outdoors and experiencing wild places.