Sugal Joins SBTi Decarbonization Initiative

Sugal has committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to accelerate the decarbonization of its business

Portugal’s largest producer and exporter of tomato paste has taken another step towards decarbonisation by committing to define company-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as set out in the Paris Agreement.

In December 2025, Sugal formalised its commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), undertaking to establish company-wide GHG emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science and the Paris Agreement.

With this step, Sugal joins a global movement of more than 10,000 companies that recognise the urgency of climate action and are taking responsibility for aligning their decarbonisation plans with the latest climate science criteria. Supported by Get2C, the company will now work on defining its targets, which will later be submitted to the SBTi for independent validation.

The definition of these targets is part of a broader project that will also lead to the revision of the company’s sustainability strategy — two closely connected processes in which the robustness of the targets shapes the ambition of the strategy, and vice versa.

“This commitment to the SBTi represents a natural step in the journey we have been building and reinforces our ambition to lead the sustainable transition within our sector. We are finalising the implementation of an ambitious investment plan, with clear targets, which will allow us to anticipate significant emissions reduction goals in Portugal. This is about far more than meeting targets: we want to structurally transform our business model by combining efficiency, innovation, and environmental and social responsibility throughout the value chain,” says João Ortigão Costa, CEO of Sugal Group.

This commitment also responds to increasing demands from Sugal’s business partners — many of whom have already established their own climate targets — who are seeking suppliers and partners aligned with the same decarbonisation standards. In an international agri-food market that is becoming ever more demanding in terms of sustainability, this step strengthens the group’s competitive position and its ability to meet the expectations of clients and stakeholders.

The commitment to the SBTi further consolidates Sugal’s long-standing sustainability journey. The company has been assessing its GHG emissions since 2010 and has implemented several projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and low-carbon fuels, including the installation of the first forest biomass boiler for tomato processing operating in Europe.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organization that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis, and one of the world’s fastest-growing voluntary corporate climate initiatives, trusted by over 11,000 companies and financial institutions worldwide.

Sources: Sugal, Science Based Targets initiative