Nine multinationals including Nike join forces to reduce their carbon footprint #28

2020/23/07

(AFP) – Nine multinationals have joined forces at the initiative of US computer giant Microsoft to share their research and strategies to enable all companies to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Called “Transform to Net Zero”, this initiative currently brings together Danish carrier AP Moller-Maersk, the American coffee chain Starbucks, the French food group Danone and the Anglo-Dutch food group Unilever, the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, the Brazilian cosmetics group Natura & Co, the American sports equipment manufacturer Nike and the Indian IT consulting group Wipro.

These organisations from various countries and industries want to share information and experiences on how best to limit carbon emissions and restrict the increase in the Earth’s average temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius, details a statement released Tuesday.

They also say they want to invest in innovations and advocate public policies to achieve this goal. Microsoft already promised in January that its carbon footprint would be negative by 2030.

“No company can tackle the climate crisis alone,” said one of its representatives, Ben Smith, in Tuesday’s statement. “This is why major companies will develop and share best practices, research and the results of their experiences to help everyone move forward,” he added.

The initiative presented on Tuesday, supported by the US environmental protection association Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), is open to other members.

Here