The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated announced that it is committed to reducing its carbon emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement, an international agreement adopted to address climate change and its negative impacts by limiting global warming to 1.5-degrees Celsius. The company is working towards an annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of achieving 1.5 degree-aligned net zero emissions by 2050.
The company has an established track record of leading and operating its restaurants in alignment with environmental sustainability and social responsibility – including tying a portion of fiscal 2022 executive bonus compensation to its sustainable sourcing policy and climate commitments.
“This is a natural evolution of our more than 40-year legacy of doing the right thing for our guests, our staff, and our communities,” said David Gordon, President of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. “Over the last decade, we established a dedicated sustainability department which has been focused on creating and implementing operational programs and an overarching sustainability strategy. We are very pleased to be committing to reduce our carbon emissions as part of that strategy.”
“Making this commitment is a wonderful progression that builds upon our award-winning sustainable sourcing and food recovery programs,” says Megan Bloomer, Vice President of Sustainability for The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated. “The company has taken a creative approach to sustainability, forging and maintaining collaborative partnerships with advocacy organizations and industry thought leaders to ensure we are setting relevant goals and reaching credible achievements.”
The Cheesecake Factory marked the first step in creating its climate strategy by signing the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Commitment Letter and plans to submit reduction targets to SBTi for validation. Upon acceptance, the company plans to publish its approved targets on the SBTi website and in the company’s annual CSR report.
“With this action, The Cheesecake Factory has demonstrated their commitment to credible climate reduction goals and science-based transition plans,” adds Danielle Fugere, president of As You Sow. “And, we are encouraged to see companies like The Cheesecake Factory set science-based goals to align with a 1.5-degree carbon reduction scenario.”
