Cummins
Inc Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger has outlined the company's most extensive
plan to date for environmental sustainability, including specific goals for
reducing waste, water and energy.
Cummins
Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units
that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines
and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling,
filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. The
company is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA)
A
core part of the company's mission is demanding that everything Cummins does
leads to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment, which has also proven to
be a business advantage, says a company press statement.
Cummins
has been working hard to reduce its environmental footprint for years. Late in
the 1990's Cummins began to view its technical expertise as a key competitive
advantage to meet increasingly stringent regulations. This is playing out
around the world as countries continue to implement stricter air pollution
standards, and Cummins is able to deliver products that not only comply but
also provide the renowned power and reliability that customers depend on.
"Customers
depend on us to help them achieve success and improve their bottom line while
consumers rely on us to power the trucks, trains and ships that deliver their
goods and services," said Linebarger, adding, "We also understand we
have many stakeholders and we make every effort to deliver economic value to
each of them. Equally important is delivering on our environmental mission and
making a positive impact on communities around the world. Providing efficient
and clean power is a win for our Company, a win for our customers, and a win
for the environment."
The
plan Linebarger discussed came together after nearly two years of study and
builds on the positive work that the Company has accomplished over past
decades. The plan for the first time brings together stakeholders from all
corners of the company to execute a coordinated approach to the environment.
Cummins examined its environmental footprint, putting special focus on water,
waste and energy and greenhouse gases (GHGs). It prioritises actions for the company
to address its biggest environmental opportunities -- from the materials it
buys to the emissions of its products.
A
top priority for Cummins is its products. The company will continue to develop
innovative designs for the efficient use of fuel and raw materials, building on
successes like the Cummins-Peterbilt "SuperTruck," praised by the
President of the United States in February for achieving a 75pc improvement in
fuel economy compared to a typical truck on the road today.
"With
millions of engines and generators in service, and customers in 190 countries
and territories, there's no question that Cummins has the global reach to make
a positive impact on the environment," Linebarger continued. "And, as
a company, this is the right thing to do," he noted.
The
plan calls for the company to expand its efforts and to work even more
collaboratively with its customers, communities and others to make a positive
impact.
One
of the biggest environmental opportunities is to address Cummins products in
use. Cummins has extensive experience in this area. For nearly 10 years, the company
has used Six Sigma, the business problem-solving tool, to help customers
operate their Cummins equipment more efficiently, saving them more than $3
billion since 2005. Ninety million gallons of fuel has been saved and about one
million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) has been avoided.
The
company has also been engaged with communities on environmental issues for many
years, from helping communities in India conserve water in their farms and
access water for their homes to reducing air pollution in China caused by
farmers burning waste in their fields.
Cummins
must also work on its large and sophisticated worldwide supply chain. Through
an improved transportation system, Cummins will reduce the total number of
miles traveled to move shipments across the internal network. Additionally, the
company can have a positive impact by working with suppliers to efficiently use
raw materials and packaging.
The
plan lays out specific goals in the areas where the company has the most
control -- its facilities and operations. The goals include:
Reducing energy use and GHGs by 25pc
and 27pc respectively, adjusted to sales, by 2015.
Reducing direct water use across
Cummins by 33pc, adjusted to hours worked, and achieving water neutrality at 15
manufacturing sites in priority water stressed countries by 2020.
Increasing the company's recycling rate
from 89 percent to 95 percent and achieving zero disposal status at 30 sites by
2020.
"This
is just the next step in our effort to reduce our footprint," said
Linebarger. "Once we achieve these goals, we will continue to set and
accomplish new ones," he emphasised.
Source: Cummins Inc.