Scaling the Impact: RTZ Companies' Journey in Corporate Climate Action

Despite global economic uncertainty and shifting policy signals, corporate climate action continues to show remarkable resilience and measurable impact. According to DitchCarbon's new analysis, Scaling the Impact: RTZ Companies' Journey in Corporate Climate Action, we examined 3,212 corporate members of the Race to Zero (RTZ) campaign over the two year period from 2022 to 2024.

Collectively, these companies reduced by 51.1 million metric tonnes of CO₂ during this time.

That's the same as the emissions stored in over 500,000 fuel trucks, enough to form a continuous line between New York and Los Angeles.

The report reveals that meaningful decarbonisation is firmly underway, even amid supply chain disruptions and uneven regulatory developments. In 2024, 16.8% of RTZ companies achieved absolute emissions reductions, maintaining steady progress consistent with previous years. Additionally, 25.6% of companies reduced Scope 1 and 2 intensity, while 13.4% achieved upstream Scope 3 intensity reductions, underscoring the persistent challenge of addressing supply chain emissions.

Over 43% of RTZ companies increased their use of renewable energy, reinforcing its role as the most impactful lever for near term decarbonisation. Meanwhile, 9.2% adopted sustainable procurement practices.

1. Benchmarking and Disclosure Trends

Corporate Climate Transparency

• In 2024, 55.0% of RTZ companies had disclosed their emission data, compared with 58.6% in 2023.
• The slight decline reflects both reporting cycle delays and partial data availability, rather than reduced transparency.
• Benchmarking performance improved: 16.0% of companies scored in the top 10 percentile of DitchCarbon's benchmarking score in 2024, up from 14.3% in 2023.

These results demonstrate that corporate sustainability maturity continues to deepen, with leading firms differentiating through consistent disclosure and higher quality data.

2. Emissions Reduction Performance

Absolute Emissions (Scope 1 + 2 + Upstream Scope 3)

• 16.8% of companies achieved absolute emissions reductions in 2024.
• Performance has remained steady: 17.9% in 2023 and 10.6% in 2022.
• On a two year basis, 13.8% of companies reduced total upstream absolute emissions in 2024.

This consistent performance shows steady progress, though still below the pace required for science based pathways.

Scope 1 + 2 Intensity

• 25.6% of companies reduced intensity in 2024 (vs. 35.0% in 2023).
• On a two year basis, 28.1% achieved reductions.

This dip highlights the challenge of decoupling emissions from business growth, especially in energy intensive sectors.

Upstream Scope 3 Intensity

• 13.4% of companies reduced upstream intensity in 2024, down from 18.9% in 2023.
• Two year reductions remained steady at 13.6%, underscoring the need for more robust supplier engagement and procurement policies.

3. Decarbonisation Levers

Renewable Energy Transition

• 43.7% of RTZ companies increased renewable energy use.
• For example, Nokia: Expanded partnerships for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Renewable sourcing continues to deliver the largest measurable impact across RTZ companies.

Sustainable Procurement

• 9.2% of companies adopted sustainable procurement practices.
• Examples:
  • Dassault Systèmes: Boosted supplier SBT adoption from 26% (2022) to 37% (2023).

Supplier Renewable Energy Adoption

• 15.7% of RTZ companies' suppliers now use renewable energy.

This signals growing climate maturity and cascading decarbonisation across value chains.

Investments in Climate Solutions

• 8.7% of companies are investing in solutions beyond renewables, such as energy efficiency, circularity, and nature based interventions.

4. Detailed Corporate Climate Leadership

Apple

Graph: DitchCarbon Apple Sustainability Profile

• Apple achieved a 36% reduction in total upstream emissions from 2022 to 2024 while maintaining its revenue.
• Over 100 supplier facilities participated in Apple's Supplier Energy Efficiency Program.
• 2 billion kWh of electricity savings and 2.2 million MMBtu of additional energy savings delivered, avoiding 1.7 million tonnes CO₂e.
• Display suppliers alone avoided an additional 2.7 million tonnes CO₂e in 2023 through targeted efficiency and renewable measures.
• 20 supplier sites certified to the AWS Standard, with 16 achieving Platinum, the highest possible rating for water stewardship and operational sustainability.

AECOM

• Approximately 30% reduction in absolute total upstream emissions while increasing revenue by 20% in a hard to abate sector.
• 20% Scope 3 emissions reduction (1.75 Mt to 1.40 Mt CO₂e, FY2018 to FY2024) achieved through focus on purchased and capital goods, 94% of total footprint.
• Project level carbon measurement for high value projects (> $100 M) replaced industry averages with supplier specific data for concrete and steel.
• Low carbon procurement and supplier innovation: early design collaboration, recycled materials, and pilot projects like zero carbon cement to scale decarbonisation across the supply chain.

5. Key Takeaways: What the Data Really Tells Us

• Collectively, all RTZ companies reduced their emissions by 51.1 million metric tonnes from 2022 to 2024. Nearly half the progress came from renewables alone.
• Scope 3 remains under addressed: only 7.1% of companies achieved upstream intensity reductions.
• Procurement teams hold outsized influence, driving supplier science based target adoption.
• Multi strategy leaders (renewables + efficiency + supplier engagement) achieve the most resilient and consistent reductions.

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