THE FIRST 100+ FLAG TARGETS

The report analyzes the first 149 companies to adopt SBTi FLAG targets, finding that while uptake is rapid—particularly in Europe and the food and beverage sector—mitigation plans are uneven. Most companies focus on agricultural emissions reduction and food waste, but few engage in forest management or biochar. The report highlights the role of FLAG targets in accelerating no-deforestation commitments and identifies the need for more robust transition plans as target deadlines approach.

• As of the end of 2024, 149 companies have validated FLAG targets under the SBTi, with a growth rate of more than two companies per week in 2024.
• The geographic distribution of FLAG targets is heavily skewed toward Europe, which accounts for 74% (110) of all validated targets, followed by North America (13), Asia (13), Oceania (7), Latin America (5), and Africa (1).
• The majority of companies with FLAG targets (77%) operate within 'required' FLAG sectors, with food and beverage processing being the most prominent sector (73 targets).
• FLAG targets are acting as a catalyst for no-deforestation commitments; 125 companies have committed to achieving no-deforestation by December 31, 2025, and some, such as The Hershey Company, accelerated their target dates from 2030 to 2025 due to FLAG requirements.
• Companies are utilizing both supply-side and demand-side mitigation levers, with 95 of 110 reviewed companies mentioning both. The most common supply-side measure is agricultural emissions reduction (85%), followed by food and agricultural waste and loss (82%) and land-use and land-cover change (75%).
• There is a significant gap in the adoption of certain high-potential mitigation strategies; only 7% of companies mentioned forest management and only 5% mentioned the substitution of cement and steel with wood products.
• A high proportion of companies (85%) align their FLAG efforts with biodiversity or nature goals, with 16 specifically mentioning the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).
• The report identifies several limitations and areas for improvement, including the 2023 suspension of the timber and wood fiber pathway and the need for companies to adapt to the final Greenhouse Gas Protocol Land Sector and Removals Standard (LSRS).
• Significant growth in FLAG targets is expected, with an additional 645 companies already holding SBTi commitments required to set FLAG targets due to their sector, and an estimated 200 more across other sectors likely to be required.

APA

Anderson, C., Bindon, J., & Stevenson, M. (2025). THE FIRST 100+ FLAG TARGETS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/541/1dupo5rlgd_The_First_100_FLAG_Targets.pdf

Chicago

Anderson, Christa, Jamie Bindon, and Martha Stevenson. THE FIRST 100+ FLAG TARGETS. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/541/1dupo5rlgd_The_First_100_FLAG_Targets.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Anderson |first1=Christa |last2=Bindon |first2=Jamie |last3=Stevenson |first3=Martha |title=THE FIRST 100+ FLAG TARGETS |publisher=WWF International |date=April 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/541/1dupo5rlgd_The_First_100_FLAG_Targets.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{anderson2025first, author = {Anderson, Christa and Bindon, Jamie and Stevenson, Martha}, title = {{THE FIRST 100+ FLAG TARGETS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/541/1dupo5rlgd_The_First_100_FLAG_Targets.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }