Large Swiss companies reduced their CO2 emissions

Large Swiss companies have reduced their CO2 emissions over the past two years. However, progress varies greatly from company to company, as a survey by the AWP news agency shows. In 2023, Swiss Market Index (SMI) companies reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 8.9% compared to 2021. In total, the 20 largest Swiss listed companies emitted 81 million tonnes of CO2 last year, a figure calculated on the basis of the sustainability reports published by the companies themselves. However, these are only the emissions directly caused by the companies themselves, for example through the use of oil-fired heating or their vehicle fleets. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Greenhouse gas emissions up and down the value chain, from suppliers and logistics in particular, are much higher. At the end of last year, these emissions totalled 256 million tonnes of CO2, around a quarter less than two years ago. Different pace of progress Swiss companies are progressing at ...

In 2023, Swiss Market Index (SMI) companies reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 8.9% compared to 2021. In total, the 20 largest Swiss listed companies emitted 81 million tonnes of CO2 last year, a figure calculated on the basis of the sustainability reports published by the companies themselves.

However, these are only the emissions directly caused by the companies themselves, for example through the use of oil-fired heating or their vehicle fleets. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Greenhouse gas emissions up and down the value chain, from suppliers and logistics in particular, are much higher. At the end of last year, these emissions totalled 256 million tonnes of CO2, around a quarter less than two years ago.

Swiss companies are progressing at different speeds on the long road to carbon neutrality. Pharmaceutical group Novartis (-37%) and sanitary products specialist Geberit (-34%) have reduced their operational emissions the most. In many cases, CO2 emissions have been reduced through energy efficiency measures and increased use of green electricity.

According to the AWP survey, only three companies have increased their CO2 emissions over the past two years. These are construction chemicals manufacturer Sika (+11%), logistics company Kühne+Nagel (+6.7%) and luxury goods group Richemont (+1%).

The operational emissions of the SMI’s two biggest CO2 emitters fell: Holcim reduced its CO2 emissions by 7% to 80 million tonnes, and Nestlé by.