To address climate change Braskem adopted a comprehensive and integrated strategy across both its own operations and its value chain. Recognizing the role that suppliers have to play in mitigating and managing climate risks and opportunities, the company decided to take a vertical approach to engaging them.
Braskem begins by assessing levels of engagement and awareness amongst its suppliers. They are then supported through targeted workshops, which are differentiated depending on the level of supplier engagement. These workshops improve suppliers’ awareness and provide them with training and dissemination of best practices, as well as technical support on identifying opportunities to reduce emissions and costs.
Braskem has achieved a voluntary and steady improvement of supplier performance in key areas such as setting up greenhouse gas emissions inventories, defining reduction targets, and identifying opportunities and risks associated with their business. As a result, nearly 44% of the Braskem’s scope 3 emissions are now reported.
All suppliers receive feedback on an annual basis, allowing them to identify actions for further progress. Additionally, Braskem has been able to begin an analysis of all the opportunities and risks communicated to the company by suppliers, which will inform the future engagement strategy.
In light of this success, the company has subsequently launched the same engagement process targeting critical suppliers operating in areas exposed to potential water stress and supporting them in their water resources management strategies.