Sullair Announces Climate Change Action with Goal of Reaching Carbon Neutrality in 2023
Sullair, a Hitachi Group
Company, announced its long-term climate action strategy and goal to globally
reach carbon neutrality. It will be achieved by undertaking capital expenditure
projects to further facilitate CO2 reduction, transitioning to 100%
renewable electricity through a voluntary green power program, and implementing
a voluntary carbon offset program.
This strategy comes in line
with Hitachi, Ltd.’s long-term environmental targets, titled “Hitachi
Environmental Innovation 2050.” The Hitachi Group has set a target of becoming
carbon neutral in all its global factories and offices by fiscal 2030 and achieving
carbon neutrality throughout its entire value chain by fiscal 2050. The Sullair Michigan City
campus achieved carbon neutral status in fiscal 2021 (ending March 31, 2022)
ahead of plan, and the rest of its global operations aim to achieve carbon
neutrality by the end of fiscal 2022 (March 31, 2023).
"Sustainability
is both at the core of our strategy and a driver of our business," said
John Randall, president and CEO of Sullair. "Customers and businesses are
increasingly making a conscious effort to buy products and services that help
promote sustainability, assist the environment, and reduce the impact of
climate change. By establishing this long-term climate roadmap and taking
immediate action, we aim to fully play our part in the fight against climate
change."
The company’s long-term
climate action strategy includes three focus areas:
- Undertaking capital expenditure projects over the next 12
months to facilitate CO2 reduction including:
- Transitioning to
100% renewable electricity by joining a voluntary green power program to
run a portion of its Michigan City campus which purchases Renewable Energy
Credits (RECs) on the company’s behalf and allows Sullair to designate a
portion of its monthly electric usage to come from power generated by
renewable energy sources, such as wind power.
- Implementing a
voluntary carbon offset program allowing Sullair to offset CO2
emissions while developing and implementing future additional measures for
fossil fuel use reduction over the next 4 years.
Voluntary Carbon Offset
Program
As part of its long-term
climate action strategy, Sullair has launched a voluntary carbon offset program
in conjunction with World Kinect Energy Services, the sustainability division
of World Fuel Services Corporation. Sullair has committed to voluntarily offset
at least 28,000 mtCO2e through 2025. This is the equivalent of
69,501,756 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger car or the amount
of carbon sequestered in 189 acres of forests per year. This initiative allows
Sullair to act immediately and further demonstrates its commitment to
addressing climate change.
A carbon offset represents
one ton of greenhouse gas emissions that has been avoided or reduced in the
atmosphere. Purchasing carbon offsets allows companies to compensate for their
residual carbon footprint by supporting projects worldwide that reduce carbon
emissions. Carbon credits purchased by Sullair will help with the Guanaré Forest Plantations on Degraded Grasslands Under Extensive
Grazing project. The land targeted by this project is under extensive grazing
by beef cattle ranching, and the project will reforest 21,298 hectares in the
eastern part of Uruguay, creating new job opportunities and reducing CO2 by 127,000 tons per year.
Through World Kinect,
Sullair is investing in high-quality, trusted carbon offsets that have been
independently verified and meet the highest international standards such as the
Gold Standard or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
“Each company has a unique
approach to sustainability, and we applaud Sullair for its thoughtful approach
and leadership,” said Michael Kasbar, chairman and chief executive officer of
World Fuel Services Corporation. “Our experts at World Kinect developed a
tailored carbon offset solution that enables Sullair to make immediate progress
towards their long-term sustainability goals.”