Royal Ahrend receives approval for CO₂ reduction targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 

Amsterdam, 15 July 2025 – Royal Ahrend, a leading designer and manufacturer of sustainable working environments, has received official approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its CO₂ reduction targets. This makes the company the first in the Dutch office furniture industry to receive this approval. This validation confirms that Royal Ahrend’s climate goals are in line with the Paris Agreement: limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C. 

Royal Ahrend takes responsibility for emissions across its entire value chain (scope 3), as reducing its own emissions (scope 1 and 2) alone is no longer sufficient. Together with suppliers, clients and other partners, the company is working towards a significant reduction of greenhouse gases. 

Royal Ahrend, which includes the furniture brands Ahrend, Gispen and Techo, committed in 2023 to the SBTi Net-Zero Standard – the globally recognised framework for setting science-based climate targets. The validation means the company’s short- and long-term reduction goals have been assessed against the latest scientific insights on climate change. 

Since 2018, Royal Ahrend has reduced its operational emissions by 56% (as of 2024). In addition, the company has taken concrete steps to further reduce emissions, including investments in the Circular Hub, the introduction of the Furniture as a Service model, and the development of products with Cradle to Cradle Certified® certification – the globally leading standard for product circularity. 

Concrete reduction targets 
To realise its net-zero ambition, Royal Ahrend has committed to the following objectives: 

• Net-zero emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) by 2050 at the latest. 

• An absolute reduction of 85% in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, compared to the 2018 baseline. 

• A 42% reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2030, compared to the 2023 baseline. 

“We are proud of this validation of our climate targets by the SBTi,” says Rolf Verspuij, CEO of Royal Ahrend. “It underlines our ambition to make a structural contribution to a sustainable future. We will continue to invest in circular solutions, sustainable materials and energy-efficient processes, with the aim of drastically reducing our climate impact.” 

Sustainability as a foundation 
Sustainability is embedded in the DNA of Royal Ahrend. With circularly designed furniture at its core, circular services such as maintenance and refurbishment enable products to remain in use for as long as possible – significantly reducing the use of raw materials. The validation by the SBTi marks a key milestone within Royal Ahrend’s broader sustainability strategy. 

About the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 

The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses companies’ targets. 

View the dashboard here: Target dashboard - Science Based Targets Initiative