Abstract Due to the increase in gas emissions and the growth of environmental problems globally, companies are striving to reduce their emissions and waste products in order to become more sustainable and preserve the environment. In order to solve this problem, an initiative called Science Based Targets has been created with the aim of defining targets and paths for companies to follow in order to reduce their carbon footprints. This article will analyse the impact that adherence to this initiative has had on companies' sustainability. To obtain the data, a survey was sent to Portuguese companies. It was concluded that in general Science Based Targets contribute to the sustainable development of organisations, however it is still a very recent initiative which has had low uptake by Portuguese companies.