In December 2025, Saint-Gobain Abrasives assembled 130 suppliers for the 4th edition of the “Supplier Green Deal”. It was an opportunity to review the progress made over the past year and the expectations of the business towards its partners, to reduce its scope 3 emissions by a minimum of 16% in absolute value in 2030 vs. 2017.
For the fourth year running, Saint-Gobain Abrasives invited its main suppliers to the Supplier Green Deal, an event dedicated to reducing its Scope 3 emissions. In 2022, the first Supplier Green Deal was an opportunity to share the sustainable ambition; the second, in 2023, has been an opportunity to educate on scopes 1 and 2; the third, in 2024, has enabled to start harvesting first concrete results with numerous EPD/LCA collected, as well as first CO2 reduction in scopes 1&2. And in 2025, concrete actions will be required on scope 3, starting to embark the entire value chain in the journey.
To achieve the objectives of the Group and those set by its own Sustainability Roadmap, Saint-Gobain Abrasives is proactively engaging in numerous actions on Scopes 1 and 2, which have been shared with suppliers. It has consistently reduced its CO2 emissions by 8% a year since 2017, its water consumption by 7% and its waste consumption by 5%. And for the first time in the Supplier Green Deal, Saint-Gobain Abrasives has shown actual scope 3 data, showing the very first results in actually decreasing these CO2 emissions. These efforts strengthen ties with its customers, who are increasingly demanding decarbonized solutions.
Suppliers take the floor
Like every year, three suppliers spoke at the event about their interest in the Supplier Green Deal. Ma CHENG, President of Runbao Abrasives said: “[The Supplier Green Deal] is a key catalyst for our progress in sustainable development, driving investment and innovation, building an ecosystem for continuous improvement”. As far as he’s concerned, Richard MEDYKOWSKI, Regional Quality Manager – North America at ASK Chemicals added, “The entire value chain must be involved with sustainability efforts. Our suppliers, their involvement is critical.” Finally, California BOWEN, Advanced Product Stewardship specialist at Milliken, stated: “Even though we have tall asks [...] it really is for the greater good. To take care of this beautiful place we call home.”
Clear expectations of suppliers
During their presentations, the Supplier Green Deal speakers shared their expectations of suppliers. In addition to calculating their emissions (scopes 1 and 2), defining a concrete roadmap to 2030, and reducing their emissions by a minimum of 8% per year, they are now asked to cascade these expectations to their own suppliers. On top of that, during 2026, the suppliers will have to document and share their detailed action plans on Ecovadis to improve. The expectation is also to kick off several co-development projects of low CO2 solutions for the raw materials Saint-Gobain Abrasives is buying. Finally, a first cycle of renewing EPD’s and emission factors will start for data shared with the Group 3 years ago (in 2023). This process will enable to better capture the progress made by the vendors in decarbonizing their products since the early days of the Supplier green Deal.
The objective of the business is clear: to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by at least 16% in 2030 vs. 2017. To support its suppliers, Saint-Gobain Abrasives provides expertise, discussion forums and a toolbox to guide them step by step. This includes training, calculation tools and resources to build a solid decarbonization plan certified by third-party organizations.
To keep ahead of the game and achieve its objectives, Saint-Gobain Abrasives makes its suppliers its best allies, and more and more of them are getting involved. A necessary alliance for the decarbonization of many industries!
*LCA, EPD, FDES, PCF: Life Cycle Assessment, Environmental Product Declaration, Fiche de Déclaration Environnementale et Sanitaire, and Product Carbon Footprint.