Pan Gang, chairman and president of Yili Group, said Yili peaked carbon emissions in 2012 and is committed to achieving carbon neutrality before 2050, with targets set for 2030, 2040 and 2050.
The company has also set up the Yili Group Net-Zero Carbon Alliance with 43 of its global strategic partners. Yili recognized Tetra Pak, FrieslandCampina, Chr. Hansen, Roquette, and four other suppliers as Low Carbon Pioneer in Yili’s Global Supply Chain.
In its roadmap, Yili outlined a path towards full life-cycle carbon neutrality in three phases.
By 2030, an operational model for green, low-carbon, and circular development will preliminarily take shape at Yili and the company said energy efficiency will ‘increase substantially.’
By 2040, Yili said progress will be made towards overall green growth throughout Yili’s industrial chain.
By 2050, Yili said it will become a green, low-carbon, and circular enterprise with an energy system that is clean, emission-free, safe, and efficient.
Yili said Pan Gang first put forward the concept of green leadership at the first Summer Davos Forum in 2007. In 2020, Yili became China’s first food company to commit to carbon neutrality in response to China’s “30·60” decarbonization goals. In December 2021, Yili received PAS 2060 certification for carbon neutrality from Bureau Veritas.
Yili said it also has the first net-zero factory in China’s food industry, the first net-zero milk in the country, and the first two “net-zero factories” in the Chinese milk powder industry.