Univar Solutions Sets New 2030 Sustainability Goals

Univar Solutions sets 40% emissions cut target for 2030

Univar Solutions has published its 2025 Sustainability Report alongside a new set of emissions targets stretching to 2030. The chemical distributor reported a 32% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions against its baseline. Furthermore, it has committed to a 40% absolute reduction in these emissions by 2030.

The company’s latest figures show progress beyond its original timeline. By the end of 2024, Univar had already achieved a 26% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to its 2019 and 2020 baseline. This exceeded the 20% target set for 2025. Consequently, the business has now raised its ambition for the remainder of the decade.

For UK businesses working with chemical suppliers or tracking their own supply chain emissions, these developments matter. Univar operates across multiple sectors including food, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing. Therefore, changes in how the company measures and reports emissions will affect customers trying to calculate their own Scope 3 footprints.

New targets cover direct operations and supply chain intensity

Univar’s 2030 strategy, called Growth Through Purpose, includes three main commitments. First, the company aims for a 40% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2030, measured against its 2019 and 2020 baseline. Second, it has set a 15% intensity reduction target for Scope 3 emissions by 2030, using a 2023 baseline. Third, the business has committed to net zero direct emissions by 2050.

The shift from absolute to intensity metrics for Scope 3 reflects practical realities in chemical distribution. Absolute emissions in a supply chain can rise simply because a company grows or serves more customers. However, intensity metrics measure emissions per unit of activity, typically per unit of revenue or per tonne of product handled. This approach lets growing businesses demonstrate efficiency improvements even as total volumes increase.

Scope 3 emissions include all indirect emissions in a company’s value chain. For distributors like Univar, this covers upstream production of chemicals they handle and downstream emissions when customers use those products. These emissions typically dwarf direct operational emissions. Measuring them accurately requires collaboration with hundreds or thousands of suppliers and customers.

Alongside the numerical targets, Univar has launched EcoScope, a supplier engagement program focused on Scope 3 intensity reduction. The company has also joined Together for Sustainability, a global initiative bringing chemical sector businesses together on supply chain standards. Both moves suggest the business recognizes it cannot hit Scope 3 targets through internal action alone.

Performance against previous commitments shows operational delivery

The 2025 report confirms Univar met or exceeded multiple environmental targets ahead of schedule. Water waste fell 36% from baseline, well above the 15% goal for 2025. Hazardous waste dropped 10% from baseline. The company’s Total Case Incident Rate, a safety metric, reached 0.36, below the 2025 target of 0.38.

These figures provide context for the new 2030 goals. Hitting a 26% emissions reduction when you aimed for 20% indicates your decarbonization measures worked better or faster than expected. It also suggests the target was achievable without major structural changes to the business. Moving to 40% by 2030 represents a steeper gradient of reduction over a shorter period.

UK businesses should note that exceeding targets early does not always mean a company set easy goals. Sometimes it reflects operational efficiency investments that delivered faster payback than anticipated. For example, switching transport fleets to lower emission vehicles, improving building insulation, or installing energy monitoring systems can all yield quick wins. However, reaching deeper cuts often requires bigger changes such as switching fuel sources, redesigning processes, or investing in new technology.

Univar’s timeline shows front-loaded progress. Going from baseline to 26% took roughly four years. Reaching 40% requires an additional 14 percentage points over six years. That averages 2.3 percentage points per year versus 6.5 percentage points annually in the first phase. On the surface, the pace looks slower. In practice, the later cuts are usually harder and more expensive.

Chemical distribution sits at a critical supply chain junction

Chemical distributors occupy a unique position in industrial supply chains. Manufacturers produce chemicals in bulk. Distributors break those volumes down, blend products, manage logistics, and deliver to end users across multiple sectors. Consequently, emissions associated with their operations appear in the Scope 3 calculations of both suppliers and customers.

For a UK manufacturer buying chemicals from Univar, those purchased goods create Scope 3 Category 1 emissions. If your business reports carbon footprints to meet PPN 06/21 requirements for public sector contracts, you need supplier emissions data. Equally, if you are working toward science-based targets or preparing for mandatory climate reporting, supply chain emissions become critical.

Univar’s commitment to measure and reduce Scope 3 intensity helps customers access better data. Instead of using industry average emissions factors, businesses can potentially use supplier-specific figures. This improves accuracy in carbon accounting. However, intensity reductions do not guarantee absolute emissions will fall. A company can improve efficiency per unit while increasing total volumes. Therefore, customers still need to track their own absolute emissions from purchased chemicals.

The chemical sector faces particular scrutiny on emissions because production is energy intensive. Many chemical processes require high temperatures, pressures, or electricity input. Moving to lower carbon production methods often means redesigning established processes or switching feedstocks. These changes take time and capital. Distribution adds transport emissions on top of production impacts. Road, rail, and sea freight all contribute. For businesses trying to decarbonize, understanding which chemicals carry the highest embedded emissions helps prioritize reduction efforts.

TCFD alignment brings climate risk into financial reporting

Univar has aligned its decarbonization approach with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. TCFD provides a framework for businesses to report climate risks and opportunities in financial terms. This matters because investors, lenders, and insurers increasingly want to see how climate change might affect a company’s performance.

For UK businesses, TCFD reporting is becoming mandatory. Large companies and financial institutions already face requirements. Smaller businesses may not have formal obligations yet. Nevertheless, customers and supply chain partners often ask TCFD-aligned questions in tenders and supplier assessments. Understanding physical risks such as flooding or heat damage to facilities, and transition risks such as carbon pricing or regulatory changes, forms part of good business planning.

Univar’s adoption of TCFD principles suggests its 2030 targets went through scenario analysis. This typically involves modeling how different climate futures affect operations, costs, and markets. A company might test what happens if carbon prices rise sharply, if extreme weather disrupts logistics, or if customers shift to low carbon alternatives. The resulting targets should reflect both ambition and feasibility under multiple scenarios.

UK SMEs working on their own climate strategies can learn from this approach. Setting a reduction target without testing it against different futures creates risk. You might commit to measures that only work if conditions stay favorable. Alternatively, you might miss opportunities that emerge as markets shift. Scenario planning does not require complex modeling. Even basic questions help. What happens to our costs if diesel prices double? Which of our products become less competitive if customers prioritize embedded carbon? How do our facilities cope with more frequent flooding?

What this means for UK businesses tracking supply chain emissions

Several practical considerations emerge from Univar’s announcement. First, suppliers in complex global supply chains are increasingly setting Scope 3 targets. This trend will continue as pressure mounts from investors, regulators, and customers. Businesses that understand how supplier emissions data flows through to their own reporting will be better prepared.

Second, intensity metrics will become more common for Scope 3 reporting. Absolute emissions targets work well for operations you control directly. For supply chain emissions, intensity metrics let you separate efficiency improvements from volume growth. UK businesses should understand the difference when reviewing supplier commitments. A supplier reducing intensity by 15% might still increase absolute emissions if their business grows by more than 15%.

Third, supplier engagement programs like EcoScope signal a shift toward collaborative decarbonization. Chemical distributors cannot cut supply chain emissions alone. They need suppliers to provide low carbon products and customers to choose them. This creates opportunities for businesses willing to work together. If you purchase chemicals, asking suppliers about their emissions reduction programs might unlock better data or access to lower carbon alternatives.

Fourth, early achievement of targets often leads to more ambitious subsequent goals. Univar’s experience matches a broader pattern. Companies that successfully decarbonize operations tend to raise ambition rather than coast. For UK businesses, this suggests that setting conservative initial targets may not provide long-term competitive advantage. Markets, regulators, and customers expect continuous improvement.

Finally, sector-specific initiatives like Together for Sustainability matter for businesses buying from those sectors. Industry collaborations can set common standards, share best practices, and create economies of scale for measurement and reporting. UK businesses should track which sectors their suppliers operate in and which collaborative initiatives those sectors support. This helps anticipate what data suppliers will be able to provide and what standards they will work toward.

Essential facts about Univar’s sustainability commitments

• Univar Solutions achieved a 26% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2024, exceeding its 20% target set for 2025.
• The company has set a new goal of 40% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, measured against a 2019 and 2020 baseline.
• Scope 3 emissions will be measured using intensity reduction, with a target of 15% reduction by 2030 against a 2023 baseline.
• Water waste fell 36% from baseline, significantly surpassing the 15% goal originally set for 2025.
• The company committed to net zero direct emissions by 2050 and has launched the EcoScope supplier engagement program to support Scope 3 reductions.
• Univar joined Together for Sustainability, a global chemical sector initiative focused on supply chain standards and collaboration.
• The Total Case Incident Rate for safety reached 0.36, below the target of 0.38, indicating progress on operational safety alongside environmental goals.

How businesses should approach supplier emissions data

UK businesses need reliable supply chain emissions data for multiple reasons. Public sector suppliers must report carbon reduction plans to meet PPN 06/21 requirements. Companies pursuing science-based targets need Scope 3 data covering purchased goods and services. Businesses competing for contracts increasingly face questions about embedded carbon in their products or services.

Getting useful data from suppliers requires asking specific questions. Generic requests for sustainability information rarely produce actionable numbers. Instead, businesses should ask suppliers about their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, whether they report to CDP or publish sustainability reports, and whether they can provide product-specific carbon footprints. Sustainable procurement practices help structure these conversations and build them into tender processes.

When suppliers provide emissions data, check what boundaries and methodologies they used. Scope 1 and 2 emissions cover operations the supplier controls. Scope 3 covers their supply chain. If a supplier reports only Scope 1 and 2, you are missing emissions embedded in the materials they purchase. This matters because those upstream emissions appear in your Scope 3 calculations.

Intensity metrics require careful interpretation. A supplier might report emissions per tonne of product, per unit of revenue, or per delivery. Make sure you understand the denominator. If a chemical distributor reports emissions intensity per tonne handled, and you buy in smaller volumes, you need to convert that figure to match your purchasing data. Mismatched metrics lead to errors in carbon accounting.

Where suppliers cannot provide specific data, businesses must use industry average emissions factors. Several databases publish these figures for different products and regions. However, averages can vary widely from actual emissions. A supplier with efficient operations might have emissions 30% below average. Another using older equipment might sit 50% above average. Using averages for all suppliers creates uncertainty in your total footprint. Therefore, prioritize getting actual data from your largest suppliers or those providing the most carbon-intensive inputs.

Businesses should also ask suppliers about their reduction targets and timelines. If a major supplier has no decarbonization plan, your own supply chain emissions might stay flat or rise even as you improve your direct operations. Conversely, suppliers with credible targets become lower risk as carbon pricing and regulations tighten. This information feeds into procurement decisions and long-term supplier relationship planning.

Preparing for tighter emissions reporting requirements

Mandatory climate reporting is expanding across UK businesses. Large companies already report under the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting framework. The government has consulted on extending requirements to more businesses and aligning UK rules with international standards. Meanwhile, the EU is implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which affects UK businesses operating in European markets or supplying EU companies.

These regulations will increasingly require Scope 3 emissions reporting, not just direct operational emissions. Supply chain emissions typically represent 70% to 90% of a company’s total footprint for most sectors. Therefore, businesses that start building supply chain emissions data now will find compliance easier when requirements expand.

The shift toward mandatory reporting changes supplier relationships. Businesses will need suppliers who can provide verified emissions data, not estimates or refusals to share information. Suppliers that invest in measurement and reporting become more valuable. Those that resist transparency become higher risk. This dynamic will reshape procurement over the next few years.

UK SMEs should consider several preparatory steps. First, map your main sources of Scope 3 emissions. For many businesses, purchased goods and services dominate, followed by business travel, employee commuting, and transportation of goods. Second, identify your top suppliers by spend in each category. Third, contact those suppliers to ask what emissions data they currently provide or plan to provide. Fourth, build emissions data requests into your standard procurement documentation.

Businesses working toward carbon reporting compliance often benefit from structured support. Understanding which emissions to measure, how to collect data, and how to report findings requires expertise that not every business holds internally. However, the investment pays off through better procurement decisions, lower risk in tenders, and preparation for coming regulations.

Companies should also watch for guidance from industry bodies and regulators. The Environment Agency, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero all publish information on climate reporting expectations. Trade associations in specific sectors often develop tailored guidance. Staying informed helps businesses anticipate changes rather than react to them at the last minute.

Where to find detailed information on emissions reporting

Several authoritative sources provide guidance on carbon accounting and climate reporting. The UK government’s greenhouse gas conversion factors help businesses calculate emissions from energy use, transport, and other activities. These factors are updated annually and widely used for Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes policy updates on climate targets, carbon budgets, and business support schemes. Understanding the regulatory direction helps businesses plan investments in decarbonization.

The GHG Protocol, maintained by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, sets the global standard for carbon accounting. Their guidance documents explain how to measure Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across different business models. Most corporate carbon reporting follows GHG Protocol methodologies.

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures provides a framework for reporting climate risks in financial terms. As mandatory climate reporting expands, TCFD principles are being incorporated into UK regulations. Businesses can review the framework to understand what information they may need to disclose.

For chemical sector standards, Together for Sustainability publishes resources on supply chain assessments and sustainability criteria. Businesses purchasing chemicals can reference these materials when evaluating suppliers or setting procurement standards.