NetApp: Why SBTi Validation is so Important
In an era marked by political flux and environmental concerns, businesses are hard-pressed to find strategies that promise both profitability and environmental sustainability.
Despite recent political developments, including the reelection of US President Donald Trump and his executive orders on inauguration day, companies continue on their mission to curtail emissions and enhance sustainability measures.
A pivotal tool in these sustainability efforts is securing validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which has officially endorsed the strategies of more than 10,000 corporations.
NetApp has joined these ranks, achieving approval from SBTi for its environmental targets.
Celebrating this milestone, NetApp’s Chief Sustainability Officer Nicola Acutt underscores the significance of this achievement not just for NetApp but for ecological sustainability globally.
Global standards in sustainability
“To succeed in the long-term, businesses need to prioritise both innovation and resilience," Nicola says.
“That’s why I’m so pleased that the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated NetApp’s emission reduction goals for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.”
“Why is this such a big deal? SBTi is a global standard for measuring sustainability initiatives — and it's a critical benchmark we're using to continue delivering value for our customers.“As we enter 2025, the world is starting to align around accepted standards for measuring sustainability initiatives.”
Strategic innovations and long-term goals
According to Nicola, enduring success in the business realm demands that companies innovate for the future while ensuring resilience today.
She likens the challenge to "changing the tyres when your car is cruising down the highway" but emphasises that occasionally "all the pieces align and you get to pursue a goal that strengthens your company today and prepares it for tomorrow."
“Right now is one of those moments,” she says
NetApp is explicitly aligning its product development roadmap with sustainable outcomes, going beyond simply reducing its carbon footprint.
"This means customers can count on us to not only help manage their data but to reduce their overall energy usage and costs," she asserts.
This forward-thinking approach aids customers in managing escalating AI workloads and the associated data, which in turn ramps up energy costs significantly.
Setting ambitious carbon reduction targets
NetApp now aims to slash its absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50.8% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline, along with a cut in scope 3 GHG emissions from the use of sold products by 51.6% per petabyte shipped by 2030 from a 2023 base year.
This ambition extends beyond the targets previously set in 2022, driven by customer demand for more sustainable and economically viable solutions.
Nicola says the changes have been driven by a “loud and clear” message from customers.
She says: “The economics of data are changing. As AI workloads get heavier, companies are creating and using data at an unprecedented rate that is only set to climb higher – and their energy costs are soaring in parallel.
“This kind of energy use isn’t sustainable – not for companies’ bottom lines and not for the planet.”
The reduction roadmap
NetApp is aiming to be a pioneer in its space, as the first company to line up its development plan with sustainable outcomes.
Nicola says: “To reach our new SBTi targets, NetApp is going far beyond just reducing our own carbon footprint.
“We’re explicitly aligning our product development roadmap with sustainable outcomes, making us the first company in our space to do so.
“This alignment means that customers can count on our innovations to help manage their most valuable assets – their data – and also to reduce their overall energy usage and costs. That’s a compelling value proposition.”
She says the new emissions reduction targets are just the next step in NetApp’s ongoing sustainability work – but an important step.
“The validation of our decarbonisation targets by an internationally recognised standard setter like SBTi lets customers know that we’re a trusted vendor in their data supply chain.
“It’s a signal that we’re committed to advancing sustainability not just today, but for the long term.”
She says the new emissions reduction targets are just the next step in NetApp’s ongoing sustainability work – but an important step.
“The validation of our decarbonisation targets by an internationally recognised standard setter like SBTi lets customers know that we’re a trusted vendor in their data supply chain.
“It’s a signal that we’re committed to advancing sustainability not just today, but for the long term.”
She says the new emissions reduction targets are just the next step in NetApp’s ongoing sustainability work — but an important step.
“The validation of our decarbonisation targets by an internationally recognised standard setter like SBTi lets customers know that we’re a trusted vendor in their data supply chain.
“It’s a signal that we’re committed to advancing sustainability not just today, but for the long term.”
Explore the latest edition of Energy Digital Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Energy Digital is a BizClik brand
