Peggy's Blog
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
07/12/21 These days, companies are committed to ESG (environmental, social, and governance) goals and creating an inclusive and diverse culture. Such is the case with Arconic Corp., which is a provider of aluminum sheet, plate and extrusions, as well as innovative architectural products for ground transportation, aerospace, building and construction, industrial, and packaging markets.
The company’s priorities include the health and safety of employees, the environment, and communities, as well as social equity and corporate ethics. Ultimately, this will help deliver sustainable value to stakeholders. Let’s take a closer look at how it is doing this.
In terms of safety, Arconic’s total recordable incident rate was 0.95 and decreased by 23% compared to 2019. Also, days away, restricted, and transfer rate decreased by 3.5% compared to 2019.
When looking at environmental, the company decreased GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 13.8% compared to 2019 and energy consumption decreased by 11.9%. Meanwhile, freshwater withdrawal decreased by 8% compared to 2019 and landfilled waste decreased by 6.5%. Finally, Arconic added two more ASI certifications for operations located in Köfém, Hungary, and Bohai, China.
Finally, when it comes to inclusion, diversity, and social equity, the company granted $7.1 million to nonprofit and community organizations and achieved a perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. What’s more, 37.5% of global executives are female and 21.2% of U.S. employees and 20.2% of U.S. executives identify as members of minority groups.
We are making progress, but is it fast enough? What else can we do to improve environmental, social, and governance in our businesses? How can we help our companies move to the next era of work?
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Achieving Carbon Neutrality
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
07/06/21
While many companies are aiming for carbon neutrality in either 2025 or 2030, one company quietly received its carbon neutral certificate for 2019—and this is only the beginning, as it has a new, long-term plan for sustainability.
Exasol is a high-performance analytics database that analyzes billions of rows in seconds and has already been certified as carbon neutral for 2019, offsetting 100% of the carbon dioxide emissions for all operations that year. The company is also in the process of achieving carbon neutrality for 2020—as well as reviewing practices, processes, and policies for the company globally to reduce emissions across the board.
The tech company did it by partnering with Planetly, a tech startup that aims to build a carbon neutral economy. Working together with Planetly, Exasol carried out a carbon footprint analysis for 2019, which covered direct and energy-related emissions (Scope 1 and 2), as well as emissions generated in the value chain by service providers and purchased products and services (Scope 3). For the calculation, the operational boundaries included the consumption of energy, waste, water in office buildings, employee commuting and business trips, equipment (capital goods), and consumables.
In addition, the external service providers, cloud-based servers, online interaction, events, and postage were also included in the scope of the analysis. As with many companies in the software and IT industry, a large share of the footprint comes from Scope 3 emissions that occur outside the organization, for example, via external service providers.
Here is how it did it. Exasol officially supports three high-quality carbon offsetting projects located in Borneo, Peru, and Cambodia, all of which have been certified by the Gold Standard or the VCS Standard and contribute to different UN SDG (Sustainable Development Goals). The projects include REDD + Rainforest Project, Borneo, Amazon Rainforest Protection Project, Peru and Rainforest Protection Project, Cambodia. Through these projects, Exasol has been certified as carbon neutral for 2019.
And this is just the beginning. Exasol’s Green Team, led by an Environmental Officer, is responsible for reviewing all processes and programs across the company to identify new ways to further reduce emissions and be more sustainable in its business practices. Exasol’s priority is reducing its carbon footprint as much as possible to limit the impact of its operations on the environment, while continuing to offset unavoidable emissions via certified REDD+ projects.
This is a great example of how one company took the journey to carbon neutrality. Still, the question remains: can we maintain it? Can we sustain this effort? We need to understand what worked here and apply it to other businesses. We can all learn how to become a little bit more sustainable.
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ESG in Real Estate
Spotlight on ESG for Arconic
Carbon Neutrality in the City
06/29/2021
Here’s where ESG (environmental, social, governance) goals shine: when they combine shareholder value, long-term business plans, and performance data. The result is enhanced corporate strategy and positive benefits for our climate. Perhaps there is no better place to put this into action than in real estate—where roughly 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions comes from residential and commercial buildings.
Such is case for JBG SMITH, which owns, operates, invests in, and develops a portfolio of mixed-use properties in and around Washington, D.C. The company recently released its annual ESG report, that looks at its operating portfolio in 2020. Let’s break down its achievements for E, S, and G.
Starting with environmental. This developer has achieved 5-Star rated GRESB sector in diversified office residential and delivered its first on-site solar project, with a commitment to install more in the future. Going forward, it has newly defined performance targets for reduction in energy, water, carbon emissions, embodied carbon, and waste.
Turning our attention to social, the company has launched the JBG SMITH Inclusion Community and the D&I Employee Roundtable series, while also signing the CEO action for diversity and inclusion pledge. What’s more, it has preserved roughly 1,150 workforce housing units through Washington Housing Initiative Impact Pool across two assets located in Northern Virginia, and one in partnership with Amazon.
Finally, governance. The owner has improved the composition of the board of trustees and continued to align ESG reporting to the SASB (Sustainable Accounting Standard Board) and the TFCD (Task Force on Climate-Related Disclosures).
Quite simply, it is aligning its goals with KPIs (key performance indicators). We often talk about how data is king—and that is true in the world of ESG. Being able to track and monitor the performance of a goal is one of the best ways to achieve it. Providing specific data as defined by these organizations, including critical performance information regarding the impacts of climate change on its business, is good way for companies to set themselves up for success in the future. How are you tracking and monitoring ESG goals?
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Carbon Neutrality in the City
Carbon Neutrality in the City
Carbon Neutrality in the City
06/22/2021
When will cities reach carbon neutrality, which is the action of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as much as is put into it? The year many companies and cities are targeting is 2030, making this the decade of sustainability. Let’s take a look.
One example is SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District), which is using zero-carbon technologies to reach its goal of zero-carbon emissions in its electricity supply by 2030.
Here’s how it is going to do it. A recent analysis by decarbonization company Black & Veatch assessed a range of zero-carbon generation projects for the utility. The 2030 Zero Carbon Plan was completed to inform customers and stakeholders of how the utility will reach the target.
The study analyzed the full range of zero-carbon technologies currently available to determine the metrics for potential procurement. The report also evaluated the cost-effectiveness and performance characteristics for each technology; assessed its technical and economic feasibility; estimated the LCOEs (levelized cost of energy); evaluated issues and challenges for the development of each project; and identified and determined the necessary input required for production cost models and scenario analysis.
The zero-carbon technologies suggested include biomass and biogas; carbon sequestration and storage; geothermal energy; long-duration energy storage; onshore and offshore wind; renewable hydrogen and solar PV that will accelerate the energy transition for SMUD’s more than 1.5 million customers. All the studied technologies are expected to be commercially available for use by 2030.
Here are some key takeaways: solar and onshore wind are the lowest cost of energy options on a levelized basis. Also, due to anticipated advancement in technology, long-duration energy storage—which is defined as 48 hours to 168 hours of storage—becomes significantly more economical near the end of the study period. The same can be said for hydrogen.
While this is one example, it seems 2030 is the target for many to reach carbon neutrality. Will we reach that goal? Time will tell—but detailed analysis of the technologies in the market is a step in the right direction.
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Taking the Pledge
Carbon Neutrality in the City
The Pledge for Net Zero
06/15/2021
Taking the Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge as part of the Science-Based Targets Initiativeis an ambitious feat. One new company is now joining the pledge.
o9 Solutions is an AI (artificial intelligence) integrated planning and operations solution provider for the enterprise. The company recently announced it has signed the pledge, where it commits to set science-based emissions reductions targets across the entire value chain that are consistent with keeping global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Business Ambition for 1.5°C is a call-to-action from a global coalition of UN agencies, businesses, and industry leaders with a common goal. In order to hold temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, it requires halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and hitting net-zero emissions by 2050. So far, more than 500 companies, representing more than $13 trillion in market cap have responded to the call for a pledge.
Part of the reason o9 Solutions decided to respond to SBTi’s call-to-action for companies to set emissions reduction in line with a 1.5°C future is because it believes that an independent, scientific approach will have the biggest impact in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement—which is an ambitious target.
In addition, the company is aiming to the long-term target of reaching net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, in line with the target many companies have set. Social impact is one of this company’s core values, as it actively promotes positive change initiatives that give back to communities and encourage sustainable practices.
Here is how this particular company is planning to make a big change. o9 Solutions is researching and gathering data on its environmental footprint. This information will help it understand its baseline, which includes energy usage, travel, and commuting-related footprints. Once all the data is collected, the company can then formulate new targets based on the latest scientific research on reducing environmental footprints.
While this is one example of a technology company that recognizes the need to make a critical contribution to limiting the impacts of climate change, time will tell if movement like this will be enough to spark a change.
Let’s be clear, the only way we are going to make a big change is if we all do it together. We need to make waves, not ripples. We need all business leaders need to step up and commit in order to make change happen.
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The Pledge for Net Zero
Carbon Neutrality in the City
The Pledge for Net Zero
06/08/2021
Companies across the globe are making the pledge for net zero emissions, which is the balance between the amount of GHG (greenhouse gas) produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Quite simply, it means removing as much carbon in the atmosphere as is put into it. This is the silver bullet for many companies today.
When will we reach this—and how can we sustain it? Let’s look at one example. UMC (United Microelectronic Corp.)recently pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is responding to the Paris Climate Agreement goal and pursuing efforts to limit the global warming not exceeding 1.5°C.
Here is what it aims to do. UMC has obtained admission into RE100, which is a global initiative bringing together businesses committed to 100% renewable power. UMC is committed to using 100% renewable energy by 2050 by setting progressive goals of 15% by 2025 and 30% by 2030. Additionally, UMC is teaming up with more than 500 suppliers, cutting carbon emissions with the goal of a 20% reduction and raising renewable energy to 20% of total power consumption by 2030 in UMC’s supply chain.
Those are some pretty ambitious targets. While good objectives are key, it is also important to narrow in on how a company might achieve such feats. For UMC, it has three resolutions to cover direct emissions from fab operations, indirect emissions from energy consumption, and indirect emissions from the value chain.
The first resolution is persistent and proactive carbon emissions reductions. It is going to do this through developing advanced foundry process technologies, while also enhancing productivity and improving energy efficiency.
The second resolution is 100% renewable energy, which is a three-stage objective set to substantially increase the proportion of consuming renewable energy. UMC is also inviting its value chain to support the low-carbon energy transition.
Finally, it is investing in net-zero technologies. UMC is committing to invest in net zero emissions technologies and participate in Carbon Offset Projects to remove and offset carbon emissions that are inevitable or still subject to technical restrictions.
Here’s what I like. The company has been focused on corporate sustainability since 2008, but it continues to narrow in on specific ways—and technologies—to help reach its targets. Time will tell if it reaches its goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2050, but it has taken the first steps today to prepare for a better tomorrow.
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A Sustainable Commitment
Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
06/01/2021
For large companies in the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction), real estate, and facilities management space, sustainability is no longer optional. Rather it is a commitment to transformative action that requires new ways of thinking, working, and collaboration. Such is the case for Black & Veatch.
The company aims to address climate change through its operations and the work it does, all while maintaining its reputation of operating with the highest level of integrity and the highest standards in ethics, morals, fairness, and professionalism. The company also plans to keep its eye on the physical and mental well-being of its professionals, while embracing diversity of experiences and perspectives.
Here are its commitments to sustainability: by 2023, it will reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% and overall GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 20% from a 2019 baseline. After 2023, it will continue reducing its GHG emission and be net zero for its overall GHG emissions by 2025. This year, it is conducting a GHG emissions inventory for the infrastructure work it does and is going to use it to inform future actions related to a reduction in GHG emissions. Some pretty big targets, right?
Let’s dig in a little bit deeper to one specific area: water. The company will measure its water footprint, the footprint on the work it does, and help clients meet their own sustainable water use objectives. This year, it is conducting a water use assessment for its operations and is going to start applying the findings to managing direct and indirect water use in offices, on construction sites, and in the supply chain. It is also doing a water use assessment for the infrastructure projects it is working on and is going to use it to inform future actions.
It will be interesting to see what comes of all of these objectives. Black & Veatch recognizes the challenges. The company recently published a report that shows while many businesses are elevating sustainability as a core tenet of their practices, many companies continue to establish targets without a clear understanding of how to achieve them. Here is what it found. More than 80% of companies surveyed with revenues greater than $250 million have set greenhouse gas reduction goals, but 25% are unsure how they’ll meet them. Yikes.
This is a big problem that could stall all our efforts if we don’t address this. This move to a more sustainable world and from grey to green is going to take time, no doubt, but we need to be forthcoming with what stands in our way. We must remember, we need transparency, tracking tools, and the people. Too many companies are making big claims about targets they aim to hit by 2030. I just hope they have the plan to back it up. Time will tell.
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Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
05/25/2021
We continue to see more and more companies making a bigger push for sustainability and circular. Such is the case with fashion. Clothes can be made with limited impact; be recycled and refurbished; and be long-lasting and ultimately, be kept in use for extended periods of time. Quite simply, clothing can be worn again and again, and again.
While many designers are creating products with the environment in mind these days, there are still challenges that exist. In my book, I note that of the 213 targets set following the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in 2017, it seems under 30% have been hit. Part of the challenge is that companies are struggling to increase the amount of recycled material used for clothing. Yet others are beginning to figure out how to get it done.
Consider the example of AEO (American Eagle Outfitters), which recently announced a commitment to using more sustainable raw materials and manufacturing techniques, water reduction, and the development of a limited AE (American Eagle) jeans collection using guidelines as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Jeans Redesign project.Here is how that AE x Jeans Redesign project works: The collection uses guidelines from the foundation’s Make Fashion Circular team and adheres to the principles of a circular economy. Taking it a step further, every garment in the collection will be easily identifiable for traceability and ease of recycling. It will be very interesting to see how this project plays out for the long term.
In terms of AEO’s overall sustainability goals, the company has made progress on a plan it set in place back in 2019. Today, the company has achieved the following: conserved an estimated 2.4 billion gallons of water in 2020; used 37% sustainability sourced cotton in 2020; used almost 70 million plastic bottles in recycled polyester in 2020; saved a total of 4.5 billion gallons of water since 2017; and decreased the amount of water used to make jeans by nearly 7 gallons per jean (compared to 2017).
The company has also continued to engage with the industry for systemic improvements in garment manufacturing and strengthened its water leadership program, which has covered production guidelines for denim laundries since 2017. It now covers all denim mills used by AEO, pushing for the best water management and water recycling practices.
This is a step in the right direction, but it will be interesting to see if the AE x Jeans Redesign project will deliver successful results—and perhaps if it will evolve into more than a limited American Eagle jeans collection. Time will tell what comes of that project and what comes next for circularity in the fashion industry.
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GHG and Sustainable Transport
Fashion, Sustainability, and Circularity
GHG and Sustainable Transport
04/20/2021
Emissions from transportation systems represent a major problem for cities around the globe—particularly those in developing countries. A new report shows sustainable modes of transport in Accra, Ghana, could save up to 5,500 premature deaths. That is in addition to improved air quality and a total of $15 billion from averted healthcare costs.
The research from WHO (World Health Organization) Urban Health Initiative identifies the benefits of developing a more comprehensive and decarbonized public transportation system. Vehicles are one of the fastest growing contributors to climate emissions. In 2010, the global transport sector accounted for 14% of the GHG (greenhouse gases) budget.The impact of greenhouse gases is something I cover in depth in my book, Sustainable in a Circular World,: Here is an excerpt from the book.
Using its own climate models and statistical analysis of global temperature data, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists admit most of the emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere are impacting global temperature.
NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study of the Earth’s global surface temperatures report shows that 2019 was the second warmest year since modern recordkeeping began in 1880. Looking further, 2019 temperatures only trailed those of 2016
t took almost a century of research to reveal that each decade is warmer than the one before. Dedicated global-surface temperature research monitoring only began in the 1800s, before that there’s no data showing human-produced fluctuations in the Earth’s history.However, what the current data does show is the average global surface temperature jumped more than 2° F (slightly above 1° C) ahead of the late 19th century. Data reveals the last Ice Age was closer to 10° F colder than the pre-industrial temperature.
As more and more debate, there appeared to be some consensus that carbon emissions was having an impact on the climate. We started to see NASA, NOAA, or other scientists pointing out that carbon emissions are having a warming effect on the environment. Familiar names like Svante Arrhenius, Guy Stewart Callendar, and Charles Keeling really started to explore emissions for raising the atmosphere’s temperature. It was Keeling that was known for the Keeling Curve in the 1960s, using computer models consistently, showing a doubling of CO2 to produce a warming of 2° C or 3.6° F within the next century that drew more interest.
However, a key development comes by research of Serbian astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch on his theory relating to the Earth’s motion and long-term climate change. Studying the Earth’s temperature dating back some 600,000 years, Milankovitch developed a mathematical theory on how orbital variations such as eccentricity, precession, and axial tilt affected solar radiation levels. These periods of orbital motions have become known as Milankovitch cycles. All of his findings were published in his book Canon of Insolation and the Ice Age Problem, in 1941. By the 1960s tech advancements found in deep sea ice cores and plankton shells, which helped pinpoint periods of glaciation, corroborated his findings.
Again, as scientists looked at all these models—that were actually decades ago—the real challenge is determining who would prevail in understanding the climate change.
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The Energy Transition
The Circularity Gap
GHG and Sustainable Transport
04/06/2021
By applying circular strategies, we can cut excessive material consumption and emissions. The Circularity Gap Report 2021 shows if we continue business-as-usual, we will emit 65 billion tonnes of GHGs (greenhouse gas) emissions in 2030. GHG emissions are directly linked to the way we extract, produce, and consume.
The report suggests if we change the way we produce and consume materials and double global circularity, we can make a big impact. Think reducing global emissions by 39% by 2032 and reducing total material footprint by 28% by 2032. We can also ensure we steer well below a 2-degree temperature rise.
In my book, Sustainable in a Circular World, I narrow in on this very topic citing what might happen if we don’t take the steps to move to a more circular economy.Today, this linear economy of take-make-waste, where we see material flow directly from resource extraction through manufacturing processes to landfills has reached its capacity. More specifically, environmentalists point to unsustainable assembly that depletes natural resources and consistently pollutes the environment. While the goal of a circular economy is based on reducing the load, reuses, and redeveloping resources through a renewable process.We are hearing over and over again we are on the precipice of failure unless we act now. We are within a decade of pure carbon collapse unless we heed the global warnings of the scientists. And what’s more, the United States is the second largest culprit of CO2 emissions, trailing only China.
According to the Circularity Gap Report, the upward trend in resource extraction and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions still flows in the wrong direction. Simply meaning it is only at 8.6% circular. And that means the gap is not narrowing. Interestingly, two years ago it was at 9.1% circular. Things are clearly going in the wrong direction. No surprise there when you think about how we consume things in this world. So, guess what? There is a lot of work to be done, especially if there’s any hope of achieving climate change and reducing current levels of 1.5° Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit). Perhaps the bigger question is whether we can even consider reaching the aforementioned goals if we can’t get individuals, companies, and countries all on the same page?
The good news is we are making some very big moves in the right direction. Will it be enough to double global circularity to make the impact we need to restore the ecosystem? The Circularity Report has made some good points, but we need to move faster, sharper, and all row together. Time will tell.
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The Circularity Gap
The Circularity Gap
The Circularity Gap
03/30/2021
By applying circular strategies, we can cut excessive material consumption and emissions. The Circularity Gap Report 2021 shows if we continue business-as-usual, we will emit 65 billion tonnes of GHGs (greenhouse gas) emissions in 2030. GHG emissions are directly linked to the way we extract, produce, and consume.
The report suggests if we change the way we produce and consume materials and double global circularity, we can make a big impact. Think reducing global emissions by 39% by 2032 and reducing total material footprint by 28% by 2032. We can also ensure we steer well below a 2-degree temperature rise.
In my book, Sustainable in a Circular World, I narrow in on this very topic citing what might happen if we don’t take the steps to move to a more circular economy.Today, this linear economy of take-make-waste, where we see material flow directly from resource extraction through manufacturing processes to landfills has reached its capacity. More specifically, environmentalists point to unsustainable assembly that depletes natural resources and consistently pollutes the environment. While the goal of a circular economy is based on reducing the load, reuses, and redeveloping resources through a renewable process.We are hearing over and over again we are on the precipice of failure unless we act now. We are within a decade of pure carbon collapse unless we heed the global warnings of the scientists. And what’s more, the United States is the second largest culprit of CO2 emissions, trailing only China.
According to the Circularity Gap Report, the upward trend in resource extraction and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions still flows in the wrong direction. Simply meaning it is only at 8.6% circular. And that means the gap is not narrowing. Interestingly, two years ago it was at 9.1% circular. Things are clearly going in the wrong direction. No surprise there when you think about how we consume things in this world. So, guess what? There is a lot of work to be done, especially if there’s any hope of achieving climate change and reducing current levels of 1.5° Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit). Perhaps the bigger question is whether we can even consider reaching the aforementioned goals if we can’t get individuals, companies, and countries all on the same page?
The good news is we are making some very big moves in the right direction. Will it be enough to double global circularity to make the impact we need to restore the ecosystem? The Circularity Report has made some good points, but we need to move faster, sharper, and all row together. Time will tell.
Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #IoT #sustainability #AI #5G #cloud #edge #futureofwork #digitaltransformation #green #ecosystem #environmental #circularworld #circularity
Greening our Globe
The Circularity Gap
The Circularity Gap
03/23/2021
From our cities to our homes, technologies can help make our buildings more energy efficient and green. A new report from Guidehouse Insights analyzes the global market for residential LED, non LED, and connected LED lights. It shows the global revenue for residential lighting controls is expected to reach $2 billion by 2029.
Here is the takeaway: LED adoption continues to grow as prices decline, building codes evolve, and connected functionality becomes ubiquitous.
This is in line with a recent NAHB (National Assn. of Home Builders) report that uncovers the top three sustainable and green building trends and features in homes. Yes, efficient lighting made the list, along with windows and appliances, and ENERGY STAR rating for the whole home.
Smart, sustainable buildings use centralized, intelligent energy control systems that are often combined with solar panels, geothermal wells, harvested rainwater, natural lighting, and other environmentally friendly techniques to significantly lower energy usage.
What is really cool is the companies providing the lighting technologies are uncovering how they can be more sustainable and circular as well. In my book, Sustainable in a Circular World, I give the example of Signifyon page 103. Here is an excerpt from the book.
Signify is one company. The Philips Lighting brand designs streets lights and components with recycled parts. In fact, the company has a circular strategy program, to double revenue by 32% by 2025. Interactive software manages, monitors, and controls lighting systems, luminaires, sensors, and connected devices from Signify and other manufacturers. Philips also encourages other businesses to take advantage of its LED connected lighting with embedded IoT sensors and software to manage and optimize building efficiency and create a sustainable smart office.
In my book, I have a number of case studies, demonstrating how the corporate world has turned to greater sustainability, helping to lead the charge to a more sustainable world.
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