McCormick’s Michael Okoroafor Discusses Scope 3 Emissions

At Packaging World’s September Packaging Recycling Summit, Michael Okoroafor, chief sustainability officer for McCormick & Company, stressed how the company is addressing the challenges of reducing Scope 3 emissions and the criticality of collaboration in this effort. Setting the tone for a discussion that delved deep into the complexities and necessities of sustainable practices, Okoroafor told the audience, “The era of make, use, dispose is over. We have to be thinking about make, use, reuse as we go forward if we want to save the planet.”

According to Okoroafor to combat climate change effectively, the focus must shift to Scope 3 emissions. For McCormick, these emissions constitute over 95% of its carbon footprint. Packaging alone accounts for at least 8% of this figure, making it a critical area for intervention. “If we want to reduce our carbon footprint, packaging has to be an integral part of that,” he added. “There is no decarbonizing the planet without decarbonizing packaging.”

In 2022, McCormick moved to 100% rPET for its food coloring bottles, resulting in a 59% decrease in CO2 emissions.

One recent example of McCormick’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its packaging is a switch to 100% post-consumer PET for its food coloring bottles, which resulted in a 59% decrease in CO₂ emissions versus the same bottle made from virgin material.

Noted Okoroafor, reducing Scope 3 emissions is not just good for the environment, but it’s also a strategic imperative for McCormick. The company sources vanilla from Madagascar, black pepper from Vietnam, and red pepper from India, among other ingredients from over 85 countries. These sourcing communities, often located in the global south, are on the front lines of climate change.

“We have to take care of these communities and do the right thing,” he said. “We have to make sure that these communities are vibrant and they can supply things to us in perpetuity.”

Okoroafor is on the board of the United Nations Global Compact, whose 2030 agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “The most important one, in my opinion is SDG 17, which focuses on partnerships,” he said. “If you want to get there [your destination], you have to partner to drive it, and that’s how you can reduce cost.”

Aligning with SDG 17, three years ago, McCormick partnered with PepsiCo and Mars to create the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT) initiative. The program now comprises 24 CPGs and has trained over 800 suppliers, helping them understand and implement science-based targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for reducing emissions.

McCormick has had its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions validated by SBTi. To date, the company has achieved a 40% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and is working towards a 42% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030. McCormick’s ultimate goal is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, a target that aligns with the U.S. net-zero commitment.  PW

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