E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., is matching the commitment to its 2015 marketplace goals with updated pledges for continued reductions in its environmental footprint. Note that past reductions have largely been achieved ahead of schedule.
DuPont CEO Charles O. Holliday Jr. cites the following 2015 footprint goals:
- Greenhouse gas emissions: Since 1990 DuPont reduced its global greenhouse gas emissions measured as CO2 equivalents by 72%. By 2015, the company will further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions at least 15% from the base year of 2004. Holliday notes that the company's 72% reduction to date was achieved six years ahead of schedule and avoided costs of $3 billion.
- Water conservation: DuPont commits to reducing water consumption by at least 30% over the next 10 years at its global sites that are located where the renewable fresh water supply is either scarce of stressed as determined by the United Nations analysis of river basins globally. For all other sites, DuPont will hold water consumption on an absolute basis through the year 2015, offsetting any increased demand from production volume growth through conservation, reuse and recycling practices.
- Air carcinogens: Since 1990, DuPont has reduced its global air carcinogens by 92%, well beyond legal requirements. By 2015, the company will further reduce its air carcinogen emissions at least 50% from the base year of 2004. That will bring total reductions since 1990 to 96%.
- Independent verification: By 2015, DuPont will ensure that 100% of its global manufacturing sites have successfully completed an independent third-party verification of the effectiveness of their environmental management goals and systems. This information will be publicly available and communicated to local communities.
DuPont plans to continue pursuing and reporting on its 2010 goals to hold total energy use flat versus 1990 and to source 10% of its energy from renewable sources at a cost competitive with best-available fossil fuels. In 2005, the company's total energy use was 6% below 1990 levels and 5.5% of DuPont's total energy use was from renewable sources.
"Our 2015 goals are DuPont's investment in the future of our business, the future of our customers and the future of people around the world. They are also about the future of our planet-the one we live on today and the better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere."
