Elders is committed to the priorities in our Sustainability Framework. These include addressing climate-related risks and opportunities, supporting farmers’ productivity through sustainable land management, and tailoring waste management practices to our business activities.
Climate Change
Hotter and drier conditions, prolonged droughts and increased extreme weather events have profound effects across our business.
We are committed to managing emissions in our operations. We are developing targeted strategies of adaptation that address the specific climate-related risks and opportunities for our business.
Emissions Targets and Performance
Target | Progress |
2025 100 percent renewable electricity in all Australian sites by 2025. | Target achieved through on-site solar generation and procurement and retirement of Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs). Increase of 13 sites with solar installations; 76 sites are now equipped with solar panels. |
2030 50 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity (tCO2e/$m revenue) by 2030, against a baseline year of 2021. Subject to commercially available technology being available to address feedlot cattle emissions. | 23 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity against baseline year of 2021. 18.3 tCO2e/$m revenue in 2024, up from 17.93 tCO2e in 2023. |
2050 Net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. | 57,210 tCO2e this year (Scope 1 and 2). Down from 59,551 tCO2e in 2023. |
Our Emissions Profile
Our emissions profile for FY24 is made up of five key categories:
- Killara Feedlot cattle at 62 per cent
- Fleet transport fuel at 34 per cent
- Killara Feedlot equipment fuel at 2 per cent
- Other fuel at 2 per cent*.
*Other includes fleet transport fuel (gasolene), stationary forklift fuel (LPG) and natural gas.
Pie graph showing contributors to Elders emissions in 2024
Sustainable Farming and Innovation
There is a growing need for sustainable farming practices to manage natural resources efficiently while promoting social and economic wellbeing.
We support farmers’ productivity through the introduction of innovative technologies that facilitate sustainable land management.
In collaboration with industry bodies, universities, and governments, Thomas Elders Sustainable Agriculture (TESA) enables us to champion future-focused solutions.
Waste Management
It is our responsibility to properly manage our waste and support effective waste management in our supply chains. Our primary waste footprint comprises product packaging and livestock, including organic waste produced by cattle at our Killara Feedlot.
We are members of Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) which guides our ambition to reduce the packaging waste, in line with the 2025 National Packaging Targets. Download and read our 2024 APCO Annual Report and Action Plan and refer to our Packaging Waste Policy for more information.
We are members of Big Bag Recovery, facilitating the recycling of plastic bags from the rural products supply chain.
Our management practices are tailored in response to the business activities undertaken within our network. Where possible, we recover, reuse or recycle our waste to maintain circularity, through participation in schemes including drumMUSTER and Big Bag Recovery.
Further initiatives in environmental sustainability are outlined in our Sustainability Report.