How Allied Printing Turned SBTi Ambition Into Approved, Science-Aligned Targets
What it takes for a midsized supplier to move from climate ambition to SBTi validation
As sustainability expectations increase across supply chains, more small and midsized businesses are being asked to set science-based climate targets. For many suppliers, this request comes directly from customers, procurement teams, or RFP requirements.
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) provides a globally recognized framework for setting greenhouse gas reduction targets aligned with climate science and the goals of the Paris Agreement. While the framework is well established, navigating the submission and validation process can feel complex, especially for lean teams.
For Allied Printing, pursuing SBTi validation was a natural next step in a sustainability journey already underway. What the team needed was a clear, structured way to translate ambition into approved targets and a plan they could realistically execute.
RyeStrategy partnered with Allied Printing to support carbon footprinting, science-based target setting, and formal SBTi submission. We spoke with Elly Chichester, CMO at Allied Printing, about what the process looked like in practice.
From Commitment to Clarity
For many suppliers, SBTi introduces a new level of technical specificity. The expectations are clear, but understanding how they apply to a particular business often takes time and interpretation.
“Before working with RyeStrategy, the SBTi process felt technically complex. We understood why science-based targets mattered, but translating SBTi’s requirements into meaningful, achievable goals for our business was the hardest part.”
Allied Printing had already made sustainability a priority. What they needed was a way to interpret SBTi’s guidance and respond confidently when questions arose during the review process.
“When questions came back from SBTi, having a partner who could guide us through those moments was invaluable.”
That guidance helped the team move forward without losing momentum or confidence during review and revision.
Turning a Technical Framework Into Weekly Progress
Rather than approaching SBTi as a single submission milestone, RyeStrategy worked with Allied Printing to structure the work into a steady, predictable cadence. This allowed progress to happen alongside existing responsibilities, without overwhelming internal teams.
“RyeStrategy helped us break the SBTi process into manageable weekly tasks instead of treating it as one large project.”
That structure supported consistency across greenhouse gas data collection, target setting, and internal coordination, while keeping sustainability connected to broader business priorities.
“That structure made it easier for our team to understand what was required and how sustainability fits into our broader business strategy.”
By aligning the work with normal operating rhythms, the process became something the team could sustain week to week.
Tools That Supported Confidence and Follow-Through
Clear structure was reinforced through practical tools designed to support visibility and accountability throughout the process. A custom project tracker helped the Allied Printing team stay aligned on responsibilities, timelines, and upcoming milestones.
“RyeStrategy’s custom project tracker and one-on-one guidance gave us confidence throughout the carbon footprint and SBTi submission process.”
With that foundation in place, Allied Printing developed targets that reflected both ambition and feasibility.
“We now have emissions targets that are ambitious and achievable, supported by data and aligned with climate science.”
Validation as a Milestone, Not the Finish Line
When Allied Printing’s targets were formally validated by SBTi, the approval marked an important moment in the company’s sustainability journey.
“SBTi validation confirmed that the work we had done was credible, defensible, and aligned with global best practices.”
The validation also provided a solid basis for communicating progress externally. With RyeStrategy’s support, Allied Printing shared the announcement in a way that reflected the rigor behind the work and the values driving their sustainability commitments.
The Value of a Structured Partner
Looking back on the process, Elly points to structure and guidance as the factors that made the work manageable.
“Having RyeStrategy as a partner made the process clearer and more manageable. They helped us set science-based targets, validate them through SBTi, and build a realistic plan to achieve our goals.”
For Allied Printing, SBTi shifted from a complex requirement into a clear, science-aligned pathway that fits within the realities of a midsized business.
Why This Story Matters
This client spotlight offers a practical reference for companies considering SBTi and looking to understand what structured submission support can look like in practice. It reflects how thoughtful process design, data integrity, and steady guidance can help translate climate commitments into approved, actionable targets.
Want to strengthen your SBTi readiness?
Book a free strategy session to discuss your climate goals with a sustainability manager.
About RyeStrategy
Based in Seattle, RyeStrategy is a CDP-accredited, mission-oriented company specialized in carbon accounting, mitigation coaching, and climate disclosure solutions for organizations at any point in their sustainability journey. Learn how RyeStrategy helped Salesforce, Ideascale, and Wazoku achieve their sustainability goals.
From exhaustive carbon footprinting and mitigation coaching, to setting science-based targets and reporting climate data to CDP, SBTi or custom reporting platforms, RyeStrategy acts as a hands-on extension of the team, custom-tailoring services to fulfill climate disclosure requirements easily and accurately.
Meet with a sustainability specialist to learn more about RyeStrategy solutions.
