SML Group targets net-zero by 2050

SML Group, one of the global leaders in RFID, brand identification and eco-labelling, has released its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, highlighting major advances in sustainable innovation and operational excellence.

The company showed strong performance in 2024 with notable revenue growth and three new production facilities, expanding operations to over 25 sites across more than 20 countries. SML also received the In-Store Technology of the Year award at the 2024 Retail Systems Awards for RFID innovation with demonstrated ROI.

SML's ESG strategy is now aligned with the United Nations Global Compact and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative, setting it apart as one of the few companies in its sector with a clear science-based path to net-zero by 2050.

Key 2024 milestones include 57.7 percent of sustainable products featuring sustainable elements and 83.1 percent of supplier compliance with ESG standards. The company maintained a strong workplace safety record with zero fatal incidents and a Total Recordable Incident Rate of 0.30, well below the 2.8 industry average.

SML diverted 92.7 percent of waste from landfill and repurposed 1,200 kg of sticker liners per month. The company's EcoInspire range, using recycled polyester, FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks, continues to grow with strong brand uptake.

In technology developments, SML partnered with Landmark Group to deploy item-level RFID across stores and distribution centers in the Middle East. The company's Digital Product Passports help brands embed essential material, origin and lifecycle data directly into products, supporting circularity and preparing for incoming EU legislation.

For 2025, SML targets increasing sustainable products to 90 percent of total offerings and achieving 95 percent waste diversion and supplier ESG compliance. The company also aims to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent against 2021 levels.

'At SML, we are not only helping brands adapt, we empower them to lead,' said Nanna Ingemann Dalsgaard, vice president of sustainability, digital IDs and marketing at SML Group. 'By aligning with initiatives like the Science Based Targets initiative and the UN Global Compact, we are embedding sustainability and responsibility into every facet of our business.'