When we talk about a company’s environmental footprint, it is easy to focus on the visible: production lines, warehouse operations, and energy consumption across our factories. However, focusing purely on reducing the emissions of our own production sites would mean ignoring over 80% of our total impact.
Mapping the full journey
To drive real change, we follow the global standard of three ‘Scopes’ to map our impact. While Scopes 1 and 2 focus on our own operations and energy, Scope 3 accounts for our entire value chain. This includes everything from sourcing raw materials, like packaging and fibers, to logistics and the end-of-life handling of our products.
“The majority of Ontex’s carbon footprint lies outside our direct operations,” explains Xavier Logel, Group Sustainability Specialist. “Because Scope 3 represents the largest share of emissions, collaboration with suppliers and retail partners is essential to achieve meaningful reductions.”
Science as our compass
We believe that credible climate ambition must be science-based. That is why our 2030 targets are formally validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
- Within our own operations: a 71% absolute reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions (vs. 2020).
- Across our value chain: a 51.6% reduction in Scope 3 emissions per euro of value added.
“Data and science take the guesswork out of sustainability,” says Xavier Logel. “Through SBTi, we make investment and innovation choices based on what will cut emissions most effectively, even when that means harder decisions. It helps us move beyond easy wins and focus on changes that truly matter for both our business and the planet.”
Supporting our partners
Since we manufacture for both retail brands and healthcare providers, our progress directly supports our customers’ sustainability journeys. Because our products are part of their supply chain, every reduction we achieve in our footprint helps them reach their own Scope 3 climate goals.
We turn science into reality through:
- Renewable energy: we now use 100% renewable electricity across all our production sites.
- Innovative product design: we engineer our products to use fewer and lighter materials through advanced design and high-performance materials. This innovation allows us to significantly reduce resource consumption without compromising on performance or comfort that our users depend on.
For example, since 2020, we have reduced the weight of our diapers by approximately 10%, which is a saving of 3g of raw materials per diaper. While this may seem small, it translates into a substantial reduction in resource use when multiplied by the scale at which we work to make everyday life easier for millions of people. - Responsible sourcing: we work closely with suppliers to test and scale lower carbon alternatives for both our products and packaging.
For example, more than 40% of our packaging now contains recycled content, an amount that has doubled in just two years. By incorporating 1,211 tons of recycled material last year, we significantly reduced our reliance on virgin plastics.
A partnership for future readiness
As transparency regulations tighten, data is the new standard. We provide our partners with the clear metrics they need to meet their goals and comply with regulatory requirements. “We provide the evidence our partners need,” says Xavier. “Through life cycle assessments and data-driven scorecards, we help our customers reach their own Scope 3 goals and report progress with total credibility.”
At Ontex, our climate action is driven by science and powered by collaboration. We remain committed to measuring, reducing, and transparently reporting our emissions as we work toward a more sustainable future.
Here for you. Here for the better.
