Lessons from Schneider Electric on its net-zero journey

In this episode of ‘Sustainability Leaders’, Vanessa Miller Fels, VP of Climate and Environment at Schneider Electric, joins Michael Torrance, Chief Sustainability Officer at BMO, to discuss Schneider Electric's journey toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The conversation covers the company's ambitious goals, challenges encountered, key motivators, and various aspects of its sustainability efforts.

Key insights:

• Schneider Electric views sustainability from two angles: enabling customer efficiency through its solutions while rigorously embedding sustainability within its own operations, a journey spanning over 20 years.

• As one of the first companies to set SBTi-approved net-zero targets in 2022, Schneider Electric is committed to drastic absolute emission reductions, prioritizing overall reductions over intensity-based approaches.

• Achieving net-zero involves a multi-faceted strategy focused on reducing emissions, replacing fossil-based energy and materials, and ultimately removing residual emissions.

• Addressing the significant Scope 3 emissions demands strong collaboration with value chain partners, and a focus on sufficient, rather than perfect, data accuracy.

• While ROI varies, sustainability investments are increasingly seen as a strategic move to build business resilience, gain market leadership, and proactively anticipate evolving regulations, integrating sustainability into core business metrics and incentives.