US-based Premier Packaging has become one of the first packaging companies to achieve net zero scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission targets within its operations.

The company reached this goal by purchasing carbon offsets and renewable energy credits.

Premier bought the carbon offsets from a UN-backed project in India to tackle its scope 1 emissions.

These include emissions that originate from a company such as burning fuel in a fleet of non-electric vehicles.

The company also purchased renewable energy credits to counter its scope 2 emissions, which comprise indirect emissions that come from the production of energy.

Credits are produced when a renewable energy source such as wind or solar power generates 1MWh of electricity and delivers it back to the grid.

Premier's sustainability manager Mackenzie Crigger said: “We recognise that purchasing carbon offsets is not a perfect solution to reach carbon neutrality, but it is one thing we can do now to reduce our carbon footprint while we work to achieve true net-zero operations. This is very exciting.

“We are tracking emissions across our operations, buildings, and transportation and working to reduce them.

“This includes understanding how packaging design impacts our products’ carbon footprint and reducing energy consumption in our facilities. We’re working with lower-carbon suppliers when we can, exploring cleaner ways of moving and shipping goods - and much more.”

The company aims to reach total net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040.