Lindéngruppen company Colart, a global leader in art materials, has become the first company in its industry to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reductions by 2035, and Scope 3 by 2050.
Colart, a B Corp certified company, has committed to setting climate targets aligned with the SBTi as part of its broader “Creating Impact” sustainability roadmap. These targets will be submitted to the SBTi for validation in 2025, underscoring Colart’s dedication to promoting sustainability in the art materials industry through insight-led innovation and a strong commitment to change.
“Being the first in our industry to commit to the Net-Zero Standard demonstrates our leadership in sustainability,” says Romain Guinier, CEO of Colart. “This commitment goes beyond reducing our emissions; it is about transforming how we work across our value chain to drive meaningful change. The urgency of acting on climate change cannot be overstated, and we are taking bold steps to help mitigate the impacts.”
Colart has already made significant strides in reducing its absolute CO2e emissions within its own operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2), achieving a reduction of nearly 50% since 2019.
Nearly 90% of Colart’s emissions come from its suppliers and partners, making collaboration across the value chain essential. Scope 3 emissions represent all the emissions a company is indirectly responsible for outside of its own operations. Colart has worked closely with suppliers to fully map its Scope 3 data, and this will remain a key priority in 2025 and beyond, as the company supports its partners in adopting greener practices.
“The challenges we face in reducing emissions cannot be solved in isolation,” Romain Guinier adds. “Our success hinges on the partnerships we build with suppliers, customers, and peers. Only by collaborating can we pioneer industry-wide solutions that benefit both the planet and the creative community.”
To address emissions linked to the global transportation of products, Colart is enhancing logistical efficiency and engaging in initiatives such as the FRET21 programme – a voluntary commitment by shippers to reduce their environmental impact. As part of this effort, Colart is increasing container fill rates and closely monitoring this key metric to improve the efficiency of product transportation worldwide. Additionally, Colart is collaborating with Amazon through the PICS Service, which focuses on reducing road transportation emissions by consolidating shipments and minimising unnecessary journeys.
Colart’s Decarbonisation Roadmap, developed last year to help meet its carbon reduction targets, addresses emissions from material production. A key milestone in this plan was conducting decarbonisation studies at Colart’s largest site in Le Mans, France, which have already yielded significant results, including increased use of renewable energy and studies to minimise water consumption.
In addition, Colart achieved a 7% increase in its use of renewable energy in 2024, bringing the total to 35%. In 2024, solar panels installed at Colart’s Kidderminster site in the UK now provide 41% of the site’s electricity, reducing carbon emissions by over 26,000 kg annually and contributing to the community by selling excess solar energy back to the national grid. The initiative ultimately aims for fossil fuel independence and net-zero UK warehouse operations.
“Colart’s operational focus on sustainability shows that with targeted action, real change is possible,” said Sara Brennan, Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer at Colart. “By investing in innovative solutions, we have demonstrated that decarbonisation is achievable and impactful.”
“Achieving Net-Zero Standard emissions reductions for Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2035, and Scope 3 by 2050, is a key milestone in Colart’s sustainability journey,” explains Sara Brennan. “This commitment aligns with the latest climate science and accelerates the company’s work to rapidly reduce CO2e emissions and lead the way in sustainable innovation.”
As the first company in its industry to achieve B Corp™ certification, Colart has set a high bar for sustainable practices. By submitting science-based targets to the SBTi, Colart is further advancing its internal sustainability efforts while transforming collaborations with value chain partners to create meaningful, long-term change.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Its mission is to drive ambitious corporate climate action by encouraging companies to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
Achieving net zero emissions requires balancing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with equivalent GHG removals through natural processes (e.g. forest restoration) or technological solutions (e.g. direct air capture and storage).
For more information, visit sciencebasedtargets.org.
