SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Xylem exceeds its five-year sustainability goals Global water technology company Xylem has succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emission (GHG) intensity, exceeding its planned target.
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ylem’s 2019 Sustainability Report, “Water for a Healthy World” reveals the company had achieved a 28.3% reduction in GHG intensity, against a target of 20% set in 2014. The report also demonstrated overachievement or material progress on all of its 2019 sustainability targets.
‘The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role that clean water and reliable sanitation play in preventing and controlling disease and in making communities resilient in the face of extraordinary challenges’
WIDE RANGE OF SUSTAINABILITY TOPICS “Water for a Healthy World” which has been verified by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) as conforming to GRI’s reporting standards, details Xylem’s progress on a wide range of sustainability topics: from energy and water intensity, to innovation, diversity and inclusion, disaster relief, corporate citizenship, community impact and employee volunteerism. In addition to beating its own stretch targets for greenhouse gas emissions, the water technology leader also reduced product energy intensity. Xylem’s corporate social responsibility program, Xylem Watermark, hit new highs in employee engagement, reaching 58% participation and over 70 000 volunteer hours in 2019, alone. The programme also launched a global Humanitarian Disaster Response Team, engaging employees, customers, and suppliers in responding to water-related disasters, such as floods and hurricanes. Xylem Watermark partners with over 250 non-profit organizations, globally. Patrick Decker, Xylem’s President and CEO says: “The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical role that clean
water and reliable sanitation play in preventing and controlling disease and in making communities resilient in the face of extraordinary challenges.” “We feel both privileged and proud to be making progress, alongside our customers and partners, and making a difference for our stakeholders, globally. Now, as part of our mission to solve the world’s toughest water and resource challenges -- making the world more sustainable for everyone. We’re committing ourselves to doing even more.”
SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS “Water for a Healthy World” marks the finish line for Xylem’s previous set of five-year sustainability targets, set in 2014, and the first year of tracking its bolder 2025 goals, set last year. Xylem’s 2025 signature goals include commitments to: • Save more than 16.5 billion cubic meters of water through the use of advanced technologies; Prevent over 7 billion cubic meters of polluted water from flooding communities or entering local waterways. • Provide access to clean water and sanitation solutions for at least 20 million people. • Ensure 100% of employees have access to clean water and safe sanitation at work, at home and during natural disasters. • Give 1% of xylem employees’ time and 1% of company profits to waterrelated causes and education. • Use 100% renewable energy and 100% process water recycling at its major facilities. Xylem www.xylem.com
INDUSTRIAL BUYER JULY/AUGUST 2020
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