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  • Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000: SKF Group joins WWF Climate Savers with ambitious climate action programme - WWF - Climate change news
    Rotterdam, Netherlands: SKF Group, a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems and services has announced an ambitious series of emissions reductions measures as it became the world’s first industrial engineering company to join WWF’s Climate Savers Programme.

    SKF’s climate strategy includes aggressive targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for SKF, its suppliers and logistics operations, as well as from its customer solutions.

    “SKF is in a unique position as an industrial engineering company to influence the emissions of many companies within a range of segments,” said Håkan Wirtén, Secretary General of WWF Sweden.

    “They show their level of commitment through their targets, which go beyond the direct emissions of the company itself while driving positive change throughout the supply chain. We are particularly encouraged by the way in which SKF is willing to take the lead on quantifying and communicating the environmental benefits enabled by their products and solutions.”

    The SKF Group and WWF agree that there is a substantial role for the business community to play as a driving force behind the transition to a low-carbon economy and intend to work together in the Climate Savers programme to reduce the SKF Group’s emissions of GHGs, with particular focus on carbon dioxide (CO2).

    “With our new climate strategy, we intend to be a leader in our sector to reduce emissions from both our own operations, but also to lead the way in helping our suppliers and customers reduce their emissions,” says Tom Johnstone, SKF President and CEO.

    “We are very proud to join with WWF as the first industrial engineering company to join the Climate Savers program and look forward to continue using our engineering knowledge to make the world a cleaner place for us all.”
    SKF’s updated climate strategy and WWF Climate Savers commitment includes the following targets:
    Reduce the total annual energy use of the SKF Group by 5 % below the 2006 level by 2016.

    • Reduce the energy use per production output by 5% year-on-year during the period (2012-2016).

    • Require that 100% of our energy-intensive suppliers are certified according to the new Energy Management Standard ISO 50001 by the end of 2016.

    • Reduce CO2 emissions/tonne-km for all transport managed by SKF Logistics Services by 30% below 2011 level by 2016.

    • Increase the revenue from the BeyondZero portfolio from 2.5 Billion SEK in 2011 to 10 Billion SEK in 2016.







    For further information:

    Philippe Weiler, Senior Partnerships Manager, Global Climate and Energy Initiative, WWF International, pweiler@wwf.eu , +32 478 765 231

    Barbara Evaeus, Manager Climate Communications, WWF Sweden, barbara.evaeus@wwf.se, +46 (0)70 393 9030



    About WWF Climate Savers programme
    WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries.

    WWF Climate Savers (www.panda.org/climatesavers) is a programme catalyzing global business leadership towards a low carbon economy. Climate Savers companies are proving that cutting carbon emissions and spurring economic growth can go hand in hand. Over the past decade, with the support of WWF, these leading companies have collectively decreased their cumulative CO2 emissions by 50 million tons (equivalent to the annual
    emissions of a country like Switzerland). Leading by example, these companies are creating competitive advantage and increasing shareholder value. Together they are leading climate change action throughout the business community.
     
  • Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000: WWF Climate Savers companies cut 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gases - WWF - Climate change news
     Gland, 9 May 2012 - Corporate members of WWF's Climate Savers programme cut their carbon dioxide emissions by more than 100 million tonnes over the period 1999 to 2011, according to an independent review of the programme released today. The figure is equivalent to double the current annual emissions of Switzerland.

    The review, conducted by the international energy consultancy Ecofys, also finds that as Climate Savers companies continue to deliver on their commitments up to 2020, overall emissions savings since 1999 could exceed 350 million tonnes. This is roughly equivalent to the current annual emissions of Spain.

    Current Climate Savers members include Alpro, Arjowiggins Graphic, Catalyst, The Coca-Cola Company, Collins Companies, Diversey, Elopak, Eneco, Fairmont, HP, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, KPN, Lafarge, National Geographic, Natura, Nike, Nokia Siemens Networks, Novo Nordisk, Resolute Forest Products, Sofidel, Sprint, Tetra Pak, Sagawa, Sony, Supervalu and Volvo. Commitments by former members Nokia, Polaroid and Spitsbergen were also included in the analysis.

    "The leadership shown by Climate Savers confirms that companies in diverse sectors can do good business and take a bite out of climate change,” says Alexander Quarles van Ufford, Senior Partnerships Manager at WWF International. “Resource efficiency and the goal of a low-carbon economy have to become part of the corporate DNA, particularly given high fuel and commodity prices."

    WWF is releasing the results to coincide with three days of meetings it is holding in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where it will encourage existing Climate Savers companies and other corporations to further boost industry efforts against global warming.

    The Ecofys analysis points up the potential for achieving far greater emissions cuts. It finds that were other major corporations to follow the Climate Savers’ lead in only the current 16 business sectors where the programme is active, between 500 and 1000 million tonnes of emissions could be avoided annually in 2020, an amount roughly comparable to the current annual emissions of Germany.

    Ecofys says these reductions could contribute up to 9% to closing what UNEP calls the 'emissions gap'. The gap is the difference between rising greenhouse gas emissions and what is needed to put the world on a path to limiting global warming to the maximum acceptable level of 2 degrees Celsius.

    “Greater voluntary efforts by industry are possible and essential. But the size of the task means it cannot be accomplished solely by voluntary business action. Governments have to strengthen the international policy framework to mandate deeper emission reductions,” says Alexander Quarles van Ufford, of WWF.

    Ecofys gathered emissions data from Climate Savers companies and then forecast emissions for the period after 2011 based on each company's commitment. They developed a 'business-as-usual' scenario showing emissions levels if companies had not taken on commitments. Annual savings in emissions were the difference between business-as-usual and real and forecast emissions.

    The emission calculations include direct emissions from a company's operations (so-called 'scope 1'), indirect emissions (scope 2) from use of purchased electricity, heat or steam and other indirect emissions (scope 3) from the supply chain but not under the company's control.

    Kornelis Blok, Director of Science at Ecofys, who was closely involved in the analysis says: "We have seen many corporations pledge emissions reductions. The Ecofys analysis shows that there are not only good intentions but also that a tangible impact is being achieved."