SBTi’s FLAG Emissions Calculation made easy for your company

Feeling lost in FLAG compliance? Let us help you understand, Calculate & Set FLAG Targets with Confidence

Navigating the complexities of FLAG (Forest, Land, and Agriculture) emissions can be daunting for a food company. Understanding and managing these emissions is crucial for meeting sustainability goals and satisfying key stakeholders. 

Most of major retailers have committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which obligates them to address FLAG emissions also. To meet these commitments, they require their suppliers—including food companies like yours—to monitor and reduce FLAG-related emissions throughout the value chain in the coming years. 

What Are FLAG Emissions? 

FLAG emissions originate from activities related to forests, land, and agriculture. In practice FLAG emissions include different types of seperations: 

• Land Management Emissions: Emissions resulting from everyday farming activities. For example, the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers can release nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Similarly, livestock farming practices can lead to varying levels of methane emissions. 

• Land Use Change Emissions: Emissions that occur when the natural state of the land is altered. For instance, converting forests into agricultural land releases stored carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. 

• Carbon Removals: Practices that capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, effectively reducing net emissions. Examples include planting new forests on previously non-forested land (afforestation) and restoring trees to deforested areas (reforestation). 

Who Needs to Address FLAG Emissions?

FLAG applies to land-intensive industry, so basically food/beverage productions and processing but also staples retailing, tobacco and forest and paper industry. FLAG-related emissions need to be done for companies to whom FLAG emissions account for more than 20% of their total Scopes 1-3 emissions. Basically almost any food company will exceed this threshold. 

FLAG emissions are not required by law but are mandatory to any company that aims to set SBTi targets. With SBT-targets having become generally accepted norm for many companies addressing climate issues, in practice FLAG are becoming mandatory to vast majority of the food companies in the near future. 

From Stress to Clarity—Our Approach to FLAG 

We offer a personalized approach to help your company navigate FLAG requirements: 

• Assessment: Report your FLAG emissions confidently. 

• Education: Provide insights into what FLAG entails for your operations. 

• Data Evaluation: Review existing data and identify additional information needed. 

• Data Support: Assist in gathering necessary data, balancing calculation reliability and available resources. 

• Calculation: Utilize our modern, science-based tool to compute your FLAG emissions. 

• Interpretation: Ensure you understand and are comfortable and educated with the results. 

• Ongoing Assistance: Provide continuous support for your FLAG-related initiatives. 

Depending on your data availability, industry and level of ambition, a first-time project for a SME typically takes between 2-12 weeks. 

Let’s Make FLAG Easier for You 

Book a free 30-minute session with our experts to see how your company should approach FLAG calculation.