Materialize unites leading resource and biomaterials companies to reduce supply chain emissions, guiding suppliers to understand and implement decarbonization strategies
Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has launched Materialize, a supply chain decarbonisation programme, designed to support companies in the metals and minerals sector to reduce carbon emissions from their entire supplier network. .
Demand for minerals and metals will grow significantly as the world transitions to net zero emissions and increases the use of sustainable energy technologies. To meet this demand without increasing carbon emissions, it is essential that companies collaborate to decarbonize energy supplies, mitigate the environmental impact of energy-intensive processes related to these critical resources, and reduce the sector’s Scope 3 emissions.
The Materialize program is a continuation of Schneider Electric’s suite of supply chain decarbonization programs from its Sustainability Business Consulting division, which harnesses the power of supply chain collaboration to procure renewable energy at scale. The Materialize program will encourage the entire value chain to transition to renewable energy sources by accelerating the implementation of decarbonization projects and programmes, and improving suppliers’ access to large-scale renewable energy solutions, such as power purchase agreements (PPA).
“We are delighted to launch Materialize as our latest collaborative program to reduce Scope 3 emissions,” said Barbara Fry. “We have a proven track record of collaborating with customers to achieve their sustainability goals, and this program will accelerate action in this sector.” Executive Vice President of Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric. “Educating suppliers within the sector’s wider value chain on the importance of their operating models to close the gaps in the net zero target is vital if we are to decarbonise the sector. Applying Materialize will drive the industry’s ultimate next steps to lead the way.”
Reducing emissions is a difficult task due to the complexity of the value chain, the availability and reliability of data, and the difficulties in determining the extent of a sector’s Scope 3 emissions. Service providers lack experience in decarbonisation and face some barriers to progress, such as costs and availability of solutions. Through Materialize, Schneider Electric’s sustainability business experts will simultaneously engage hundreds of industry suppliers through digital technology platforms and guide them to remove these barriers.
Heather Edney, CEO of Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) and industry contributor, said: “Through collaboration and innovation, the partnership between GMG and Schneider Electric aims to revolutionize the mining supply chain, making it move further towards sustainability as GMG members push the boundaries. What’s possible Materialize will play a key role in spreading knowledge to the wider industry and creating clear pathways to making it more sustainable.
Materialize can also offer other industries a way to decarbonise wider supply chain ecosystems, by sourcing materials suppliers that prioritize sustainable, low-carbon production methods.
Kunal Sinha, Global Head of Recycling at Glencore, said: “Measuring Scope 3 emissions focuses attention on supply chains and reinforces the importance of circularity. Embodying circularity will help drive circularity in the sector and much more, which is something we support.”
Other Schneider Electric programs include Energize, a collaborative project in the pharmaceutical industry in which more than 500 supplier companies are already participating, and Catalyze for semiconductor companies. Both were created to engage thousands of suppliers simultaneously to drive rapid, measurable action to reduce Scope 3 emissions from program sponsors. This portfolio builds on Schneider Electric’s founding initiative, the Zero Carbon Project, which provides resources and guidance to program participants, and advances ambitious decarbonization goals with an action plan to achieve them.
For more information about Materialize, visit Materialize | Decarbonisation of the metals and mining supply chain (sustainabilityse.com)
