Lessons from Schneider Electric on its net-zero journey

In this episode of ‘Sustainability Leaders’, Vanessa Miler-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.