Brazilian multinational aerospace manufacturer Embraer has announced ambitious new ESG targets as part of its commitment to building a sustainable future, including a commitment to carbon neutral operations by 2040.
1. Corporate sustainability plan
The company developed environmental goals, which include offering an inclusive workplace for all employees and launching a zero-emission vehicle, all of which are integrated into the company’s corporate sustainability plan. The ESG goals are focused on helping to move both the company and the aviation industry forward.
At Embraer, we recognise the urgency of the climate crisis and we are fully committed to a more sustainable future. We are stepping up our efforts to minimise our carbon footprint by remaining dedicated to innovating solutions that have a broader impact for our customers, our local communities, and our aircraft.
Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer
To achieve the aviation industry´s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, Embraer will develop a range of products, services, and disruptive sustainable technologies, such as electrification, hybrid, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other innovative energy alternatives. The company will also be offsetting any residual emissions that cannot be reduced through efficiency projects, available alternative energy or advancing technology.
ESG is at the heart of Embraer’s purpose and that’s why we’ve included ESG as one of the pillars in our strategic plan ‘Fit for Growth’, aligning business strategy with social responsibility and environmental practices.
Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer
2. Goals set within the plan
Aligned with the Paris Agreement goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the company has set various goals within its plan. To reach carbon neutral operations by 2040 (Scope 1+2) it will: have 50% reduction in net carbon emissions by 2040 from a 2018 baseline, use 100% energy from renewable sources by 2030, begin using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2021, and have carbon neutral growth from 2022 (2021 baseline).
To reach net zero aviation emissions by 2050 (Scope 3) Embraer will: develop products, services, and disruptive sustainable technologies such as electrification, hybrid, SAF and other innovative energy alternatives, work together with suppliers to make their current aircraft compatible with the use of 100% SAF, actively work with the supply chain to expand the global SAF production scale, continuously improve the efficiency of their current portfolio and launch zero-emission eVTOL aircraft by 2026.
3. Social impacts
The company has also developed social responsibilities in its corporate sustainability plan which includes the following goals: to have 25% of women in our in-company Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering program by 2025, to bring more than 80% of the students from Embraer high schools to public universities, and to launch ‘Social Tech’, a new program focused on selecting 1,500 people from underrepresented groups in technology by 2025, to provide qualification training for tech-related job opportunities. Additional emphasis will also be placed on promoting social inclusion within the company.
The demand for qualified professionals in the technology field is growing in the global job market; however, they are often not within the reach of underrepresented groups. With Social Tech, it is our hope to contribute to eliminating these social and economic barriers.
Carlos Alberto Griner, Embraer’s Vice President of People, ESG, and Communications
4. A joint approach
Acknowledging the climate crisis demands a global and multi-sector approach, Embraer also recently joined the Target True Zero initiative launched by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as part of the commitment to achieve zero-emissions aviation goals through new propulsion systems and fuel technologies. The initiative will identify ways to accelerate the deployment of zero-emissions aviation by leveraging electric and hydrogen technologies. Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer’s Vice President of Engineering, Technology and Corporate Strategy, stated, “We are committed to seeking solutions to enable the future of a more sustainable aviation and innovation will play a key role in this journey.”
