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Packaging firm SIG has switched to 100% renewable energy at its production sites globally, reportedly becoming the first company in the industry to do so.

The company is producing all its packs using electricity and gas, thereby eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from production.

The development allows SIG to deliver on its goal to source 100% renewable energy and Gold Standard CO2 offset for all non-renewable energy at production plants by 2020.

Last year, the company switched to 100% renewable electricity for production.

Currently, SIG is focused on replacing the remaining energy used in production with renewable alternatives.“We achieved a big milestone last year by securing 100% renewable electricity for production.”

SIG Energy Procurement global category manager Arnold Schuhwerk said: “We achieved a big milestone last year by securing 100% renewable electricity for production. Sourcing renewable alternatives for gas was even more challenging because the market for renewable biogas is not yet well established.”

The company noted that it failed to identify viable options to procure renewable biogas.

Hence, in China, Thailand and Turkey the firm is investing in waste-to-energy projects that capture gas generated at landfill sites and use it for renewable energy production.

Gas obtained from decomposing waste at landfills comprises large quantities of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

SIG noted that the projects are certified to the GoldPower standard, which guarantees the delivery of significant greenhouse emissions reductions.

Schuhwerk added: “We chose the projects because they are certified to a recognised standard to make sure they have a positive social impact, as well as supporting environmental savings.”

The company is also offsetting all other remaining greenhouse gas emissions from its production sites to ensure production is free from greenhouse gas emissions.

The adoption of renewable gas will result in estimated annual CO2 equivalent emissions reductions of 28,600t.

SIG aims to cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 from the 2016 levels.