energy Archives - SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine Insights on how you can protect the environment, maintain and increase the value of your company, through a structured CSR/Sustainability process with the use of the GRI Standards. Learn how Today's Best-Run Companies are achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success - and How You Can Too... Thu, 23 Feb 2023 07:19:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.2 Case study: How the BMW Group optimises energy efficiency https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-the-bmw-group-optimises-energy-efficiency/ Fri, 14 Dec 2018 06:25:02 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8387 Trying to become the most successful and sustainable premium provider of individual mobility globally, the BMW Group integrates sustainability along its entire value chain and into all basic processes, seeking to create added value for the company, the environment and society, not least by improving resource efficiency – including energy. This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainable Value Report by the BMW Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) […]

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Trying to become the most successful and sustainable premium provider of individual mobility globally, the BMW Group integrates sustainability along its entire value chain and into all basic processes, seeking to create added value for the company, the environment and society, not least by improving resource efficiency – including energy.

This case study is based on the 2017 Sustainable Value Report by the BMW Group published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

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Abstract

The BMW Group continuously works to conserve resources and reduce energy consumption  Tweet This!, by optimising processes and investing in more efficient technologies. In order to optimise energy efficiency the BMW Group took action to:

  • increase electricity generation from combined heat and power systems
  • replace lights by LEDs at production plants
  • improve processes to reduce energy consumption at plants
  • launch a digitalisation project for energy consumption and production data

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2017 Sustainable Value Report the BMW Group identified a range of material issues, such as fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions of vehicles, environmental and social standards in the supply chain / sustainable sourcing, occupational health and safety, pollutant emissions of vehicles, connected and autonomous driving. Among these, optimising energy efficiency stands out as a key material issue for the BMW Group.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups the BMW Group engages with:  

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Capital market

 

 ·      Dialogue

·      Conferences and technology workshops with investors and analysts on the strategic topics of electromobility and autonomous driving
Suppliers ·      Dialogue in the context of industry initiatives

·      Joint events

·      Training courses

·      Presentations

·      Supplier risk assessments

·      Learning from Suppliers forum
Networks and associations

 

 ·      Participation of Board members, technical experts or subject specialists in a number of initiatives, forums and events

·      Memberships of initiatives
Policymakers

 

 ·      Workshops on key topics

·      Regular “Green Tables” with German parliamentarians
Research

 

 ·      Round tables

·      Visits from universities

·      Lectures

·      Discussions

·      BMW Group Dialogue with students
Media ·      Dialogue within the context of press trips

·      Press releases

·      Informational events on new products

·      Test drives

·      Trade fairs
Business partners ·      Dialogue with sales organisations and the association of
 German BMW dealerships·      Business conferences·      Dialogue via the central coordinating units of importers
Local stakeholders ·      One-on-one dialogue

·      Plant visits

·      Neighbourhood dialogue

·      Press events
Civil society and NGOs ·      Face-to-face meetings/dialogue

·      Responding to enquiries
Employees ·      Dialogue with employees and managers

·      Employee survey

·      Idea management

·      Internal media
Customers ·      Customer survey

·      Social media

·      Trade fairs

·      Media

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics the BMW Group carried out telephone interviews with 13 representative stakeholders who included customers, suppliers, investors, authorities, NGOs and scientists from different regions of the world.

What actions were taken by the BMW Group to optimise energy efficiency?

In its 2017 Sustainable Value Report the BMW Group reports that it took the following actions for optimising energy efficiency:

  • Increasing electricity generation from combined heat and power systems
  • In 2017, the BMW Group increased electricity generation from combined heat and power systems by approximately 9 per cent, to 361,000 MWh. The company installed a new machine at its plant in Oxford/UK, and is preparing for the continued development of combined heat and power by carrying out preliminary work on the heating grids at the Munich/DE plant.
  • Replacing lights by LEDs at production plants
  • In 2017, the BMW Group almost completed the process of replacing lights by LEDs at its production plants. As a result of this shift, the company saved more than 67,700 MWh in energy and avoided CO2 emissions of approximately 28,000 tonnes.
  • Improving processes to reduce energy consumption at plants
  • By developing pig preheating at its plant in Landshut/DE, the BMW Group managed to reduce energy consumption in the light alloy smelter by a significant amount. In preheating chambers that use exhaust gas heat from other processes, aluminium ingots are now heated to a temperature of 400°C, before they are melted in smelters. As a result of the reduced melting time, the BMW Group saves more than 11,000 MWh of energy every year and significantly reduces CO2 emissions from the melting process, achieving annual cost savings of approximately € 350,000.
  • Launching a digitalisation project for energy consumption and production data
  • In 2017, the BMW Group launched a digitalisation project in the area of energy consumption and production data. By analysing power consumption figures of complex manufacturing structures and the facility management system, the company is able to determine optimal operating conditions. On the basis of this information, the BMW Group constantly optimises processes and increases energy efficiency, through innovative approaches.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

2) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by the BMW Group, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to the BMW Group: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How the BMW Group optimises energy efficiency appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Fortum promotes sustainable energy production https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-fortum-promotes-sustainable-energy-production/ Wed, 12 Dec 2018 06:24:20 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8377 As a leading clean-energy company developing and offering solutions for its customers in electricity, heating and cooling, including solutions to improve resource efficiency and services for the power generation industry, This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Fortum published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing. Abstract Abstract Fortum’s know-how in […]

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As a leading clean-energy company developing and offering solutions for its customers in electricity, heating and cooling, including solutions to improve resource efficiency and services for the power generation industry, Fortum aims to provide customers with environmentally benign products and services, while continuously reducing the environmental impacts of its operations.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Fortum published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

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Abstract

Fortum’s know-how in carbon dioxide-free hydro and nuclear power production, as well as in energy-efficient combined heat and power production, along with investments in solar and wind power and solutions for sustainable cities, play a key part in the company’s environmental responsibility efforts. In order to promote sustainable energy production Fortum took action to:

  • enhance its energy-efficient production capacity
  • produce energy from waste
  • invest in solar and wind energy

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Fortum identified a range of material issues, such as customer satisfaction, business ethics and compliance, secure supply of heat and electricity, long-term value and growth, operational and occupational safety. Among these, promoting sustainable energy production stands out as a key material issue for Fortum.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Fortum engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Lenders and shareholders
Customers
Personnel
Service and goods suppliers
Authorities and decision makers
Media
Energy sector organisations
Non-governmental organisations
Local communities

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Fortum carried out a sustainability survey among 2,133 stakeholder representatives, representing decision makers, organisations, employees and the general public.

What actions were taken by Fortum to promote sustainable energy production?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Fortum reports that it took the following actions for promoting sustainable energy production:

  • Enhancing Fortum’s energy-efficient production capacity
  • In March 2016, Fortum’s second new CHP (combined heat and power) unit at the Chelyabinsk GRES power plant In Russia was completed. Fuelled by natural gas, the unit’s electricity production capacity is 248 MW and its heat production capacity is 174 MW. In addition, construction of the new multi-fuel CHP plant in Zabrze, Poland continued, with the plant scheduled for completion in 2018.
 In Russia and Poland, Fortum made investments that will improve the efficiency of electricity and heat production and will reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions form produced energy. Moreover, refurbishments of hydropower plants in Sweden and Finland introduced 9 .5 MW of new, renewable electricity production capacity.
  • Producing energy from waste
  • In August 2016, Fortum acquired the Nordic circular economy company Ekokem Corporation. Fortum’s new circular economy business specialises in waste and material treatment, recycling and combustion, final disposal solutions, soil remediation and environmental construction services, and runs hazardous waste treatment and combustion facilities in Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Accordingly, the waste-to-electricity capacity in Riihimäki, Finland, is 18 MW and the heat production capacity 90 MW, in Kumla, Sweden, 9 MW and 35 MW respectively and in Nyborg, Denmark, 16 MW and 19 MW.
  • Investing in solar and wind energy
  • In 2016, Fortum launched two solar energy projects in India, the 70-MW Bhadla solar power plant in Rajasthan and the 100-MW Pavagada solar power plant in Karnataka. In addition, in the Nordic countries, Fortum has been offering its customers solar energy kits. During 2016, Fortum has also been investing actively in wind power. At the Blaiken wind farm, 22 .5 MW of capacity was commissioned, with Fortum’s share of ownership standing at 3 .4 MW.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is:

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Fortum, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Fortum: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Fortum promotes sustainable energy production appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How Baxter reduces energy use https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-baxter-reduces-energy-use/ Mon, 10 Dec 2018 07:34:45 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8371 Operating in over 100 countries around the globe, Baxter provides an extensive portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, manufactured at over 50 facilities across more than 20 countries. As energy is one of the company’s most important manufacturing costs, using energy effectively increases business efficiency, conserves natural resources and improves Baxter’s environmental performance. This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Baxter published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it […]

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Operating in over 100 countries around the globe, Baxter provides an extensive portfolio of essential renal and hospital products, manufactured at over 50 facilities across more than 20 countries. As energy is one of the company’s most important manufacturing costs, using energy effectively increases business efficiency, conserves natural resources and improves Baxter’s environmental performance.

This case study is based on the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report by Baxter published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

Baxter is committed to reducing its total energy use by 15 per cent indexed to revenue by 2020, from a 2015 baseline.  Tweet This! In order to reduce energy use Baxter took action to:

  • carry out site-specific energy assessments
  • implement energy conservation projects
  • increase renewable power use
  • operate a Lean Energy Programme

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Baxter identified a range of material issues, such as product innovation, ethics and compliance, employee health and safety, responsible procurement and logistics, serving communities. Among these, reducing energy use stands out as a key material issue for Baxter.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Baxter engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Patients/healthcare providers
Employees
Communities
Governments/payers
Shareholders

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics Baxter conducted interviews with its internal and external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers and partners, governmental agencies, investors, sustainability experts and industry and patient organisations.

What actions were taken by Baxter to reduce energy use?

In its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report Baxter reports that it took the following actions for reducing energy use:

  • Carrying out site-specific energy assessments
  • Site-specific energy assessments enable Baxter to identify opportunities to conserve energy and to implement and share new technologies and best practices across the company. In 2016, Baxter conducted energy assessments at 10 facilities globally, identifying 189 potential energy conservation projects with possible annual savings of $4.8 million. Facility personnel also uncover potential energy conservation projects.
  • Implementing energy conservation projects
  • In 2016, Baxter implemented 212 energy conservation projects that saved over $5.6 million and 298 trillion joules of energy annually, avoiding more than 16,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of GHG emissions.
  • Increasing renewable power use
  • In 2016, at manufacturing sites in Europe, Baxter increased renewable power use to 73 per cent of total electricity, compared to 51 per cent in 2015. At the same time, Baxter saved $3.3 million through its global energy sourcing strategy.
  • Operating a Lean Energy Programme
  • Baxter operates a Lean Energy Programme for its main manufacturing facilities since 2007. It includes four sets of Lean Energy standards: Prerequisite, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each one defines 14 to 35 requirements a facility must satisfy at that level, focusing on process and system energy efficiency. By year-end 2016, 38 sites had achieved Prerequisite status. In addition, by the end of 2016, five company locations met the requirements of the ISO 50001 standard, as verified by an accredited third party. 

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity

3) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

 

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-3 Energy intensity corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Baxter, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Baxter: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

The post Case study: How Baxter reduces energy use appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

]]> Case study: How BEWG utilises clean energy https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-bewg-utilises-clean-energy/ Wed, 05 Dec 2018 11:55:23 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8363 BEWG (Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited) is a leading provider of professional, wide-ranging water environment services, including urban water services, watershed water services, industrial water services, seawater desalination, environment sanitation and solid waste, clean energy and technological services. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by BEWG published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, […]

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BEWG (Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited) is a leading provider of professional, wide-ranging water environment services, including urban water services, watershed water services, industrial water services, seawater desalination, environment sanitation and solid waste, clean energy and technological services. Actively exploring opportunities to establish a whole environmental protection industry chain, BEWG focuses on the utilisation of clean energy.  Tweet This!

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by BEWG published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Layout 1

Abstract

BEWG’s clean energy business has expanded to 10 provinces and 2 autonomous regions, with the overall clean energy power generation capacity invested, constructed and operated reaching 2GW. In order to utilise clean energy BEWG took action to:

  • utilise solar energy
  • promote wind power generation
  • combine photovoltaic power generation and fish farming

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report BEWG identified a range of material issues, such as business compliance, environmental protection awareness raising, product and service quality, offering environmentally friendly products and services, occupational health and safety. Among these, utilising clean energy stands out as a key material issue for BEWG.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The reporting organization shall identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations and interests.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups BEWG engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Shareholders and Investors ·      Shareholder conferences

·      Regular reports and announcements

·      Investor communication meetings

·      Official website
Government and Regulators

 

 ·      Routine Reports

·      On-site inspection

·      Supervision of the products and services

·      Policy advices through industry associations
Customers

 

 ·      Customers satisfaction survey

·      Executives visits

·      Face to face interviews in communities

·      Hearings
Employees ·      Congresses of staff

·      Employee satisfaction survey

·      Communication mechanism about career development

·      Employees’ caring activities
Value Chain Partners ·      Open tendering

·      Cooperation within industry

·      Industry seminars

·      Sharing and promoting research achievements
Communities ·      Face to face interview in communities

·      Public benefit activities

·      Social impact evaluation
Environment ·      Environment impact assessment

·      Public investigation of projects’ environmental impacts

·      Environmental public welfare activities

·      Connections with environmental NGOs

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To identify and prioritise material topics BEWG conducted a stakeholder survey through an online survey platform, and received 377 pieces of stakeholder feedback from 19 provinces.

What actions were taken by BEWG to utilise clean energy?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report BEWG reports that it took the following actions for utilising clean energy:

  • Utilising solar energy
  • In Hebi City, Henan Province, BEWG built a 100MWp photovoltaic power plant on the barren hills near the Baisi village in Miaokou Township. BEWG’s goal, is to exploit the place’s potential in rich solar energy. A key solar energy project for the province, the power plant not only made good use of the barren hills, but also created jobs and contributed to the development of the local economy. In addition, BEWG built a photovoltaic power plant on top of the wastewater treatment pool of the Jiacheng wastewater treatment plant in Shenzhou, Hebei Province. The photovoltaic power plant did not affect the normal operation of the plant and achieved both economic and environmental benefits, by utilising the electricity generated at the site. The project is expected to generate 341,000 kwh of electricity, equivalent to annual savings of 106.7 tons of standard coal – significantly reducing BEWG’s energy consumption.
  • Promoting wind power generation
  • In Binzhou City, Shandong Province, BEWG operates the Lusa 48MW wind power generation project. The project was officially launched in May 2016 and, since 31 December 2016, the Lusa 48MW wind power generation project has generated 35,397,000 kwh of electricity.
  • Combining photovoltaic power generation and fish farming
  • In Yingshang County, Anhui Province, BEWG designed and built a 150MW photovoltaic power plant over a fish farm,
 covering 500 hectares of water surface of the Jiaogang
 
Lake. By installing photovoltaic power generation units
 on top of the fish farm, BEWG achieved the combined production of 
electricity and fish, optimising space use and saving land resources. The photovoltaic power generation units 
are adjustable, to create the ideal environment for fish in the water beneath and increase the fish farm’s yield. As a consequence, the complete and full- dimensional development of photovoltaic power generation and fish farming is achieved. The project’s actual power generation exceeded the designed capacity, because of the exceptionally good quality of its construction and the outstanding performance of its equipment. It is estimated to be able to generate 70,000,000 kwh of electricity per year.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standards addressed in this case are:

1) Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported

2) Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

3) Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption

4) Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

 

Disclosure 203-1 Infrastructure investments and services supported corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-4 Reduction of energy consumption corresponds to:

Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by BEWG, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to BEWG: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Case study: How Huawei is reducing the carbon emissions of its products and solutions https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-huawei-is-reducing-the-carbon-emissions-of-its-products-and-solutions/ Mon, 19 Nov 2018 09:33:23 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=8045 As a global information and communications technology (ICT) leader, providing ICT infrastructure, products and integrated solutions in more than 170 countries and regions around the globe, , to help customers reduce both their operating expenses and carbon emissions. This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Huawei published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and […]

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As a global information and communications technology (ICT) leader, providing ICT infrastructure, products and integrated solutions in more than 170 countries and regions around the globe, Huawei makes every effort to offer highly efficient and energy-saving green products and solutions  Tweet This!, to help customers reduce both their operating expenses and carbon emissions.

This case study is based on the 2016 Sustainability Report by Huawei published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

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Abstract

Providing energy-efficient solutions for networks, sites and equipment, to enable customers to operate at lower costs and with higher energy efficiency, is a top priority for Huawei. In order to reduce the carbon emissions of its products and solutions Huawei took action to:

  • research innovative energy-saving technologies
  • increase the energy performance of networks
  • promote energy conservation and carbon reduction standards

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Huawei identified a range of material issues, such as broadband inclusion for all, compensation and benefits for employees, product safety, actively responding to cyber security challenges, communications for all. Among these, reducing the carbon emissions of its products and solutions stands out as a key material issue for Huawei.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Huawei engages with:

Stakeholder Group                Method of engagement
Customers/Consumers

 

 ·         Customer satisfaction surveys

·         Customer meetings

·         Huawei Fan Club (for consumers)

·         Participation in audits, surveys, and collaborative projects on sustainability (e.g., joint audits with the ICT industry’s Joint Audit Cooperation [JAC])
Employees ·         Meetings with employee representatives

·         Employee surveys (e.g., organizational climate survey)

·         Manager feedback process
Suppliers ·         Supplier meetings and audits

·         Supplier contracts and questionnaires

·         Supplier training sessions and conferences (e.g., the Huawei Global Supplier Sustainability Conference)
Governments

 

 

 ·         Government policy meetings

·         Inputs to government standards and consultations

·         Governmental and inter-governmental conferences

·         Participation in government projects (e.g., green projects of the Chinese government)
Industry/Standards

Associations

 

 ·         Industry forums and working groups (e.g., ITU, GeSI, EICC, and QuEST Forum)

·         Industry standards workshops

·         Publication of research reports (e.g., the ICT Sustainable Development Goals Benchmark Report )
NGOs and Communities ·         Participation in community projects

·         Attending conferences organized by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inviting them to attend Huawei’s conferences

·         Meetings on specific issues of mutual concern

·         Responding to requests for information
Media and Opinion Leaders ·         Individual meetings and interviews

·         Specific events for the media and opinion leaders in key markets (e.g., the Huawei Global Analyst Summit)

·         Inviting the media and opinion leaders to attend Huawei’s events

·         Engagement through social media
Research Institutes/

Academia

 

 ·         Joint research projects and technology collaboration (e.g., cooperating with a research institute on the ICT Sustainable Development Goals Benchmark Report)

·         Participation in events

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

To assess and prioritise material topics, identifying those of highest concern to its stakeholders, Huawei engaged with stakeholders through surveys, asking them to rank topics according to importance.

What actions were taken by Huawei to reduce the carbon emissions of its products and solutions?

In its 2016 Sustainability Report Huawei reports that it took the following actions for reducing the carbon emissions of its products and solutions:

  • Researching innovative energy-saving technologies
  • Huawei researches ground-breaking energy-saving technologies, to support future network developments. Accordingly, it actively collaborates with universities and research institutes and made progress in several 5G areas, including Massive MIMO, network architecture, air interface and all-digital radio frequency technology. These technologies decrease end-to-end network costs, while increasing spectrum utilization and energy efficiency.
  • Increasing the energy performance of networks
  • Huawei seeks to boost the energy performance of customers’ networks through network modernisation, providing energy conservation solutions. It helps customers redesign networks according to actual conditions such as traffic distribution, networking characteristics and the power consumption of equipment and infrastructure. In addition, by means of low-power chips, efficient cooling of power supply, improved software design and dynamic energy management technologies, Huawei increased, in 2016, the energy efficiency of core routers and wireless base stations by 18% and 20%, compared to 2015.
  • Promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction standards
  • Through open collaboration, Huawei drives the research and development of energy conservation and carbon reduction standards across the ICT industry. In 2016, Huawei was an active member of and major contributor to the energy conservation and carbon reduction standards teams of ITU (International Telecommunication Union), ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and CCSA (China Communications Standards Association), submitting various proposals. These proposals relate to base stations, radio access networks, routers, servers, NFV, and circular economy in the ICT sector.

Which GRI Standards and corresponding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been addressed?

The GRI Standard addressed in this case is:

Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services corresponds to:

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

  • Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
  • Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
  • Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
  • Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

 

 References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Huawei, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Huawei: With each case study we send out an email requesting a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Organic solar cells can produce cheaper electricity and can provide an almost limitless energy supply https://sustaincase.com/organic-solar-cells-can-produce-cheaper-electricity-and-can-provide-an-almost-limitless-energy-supply/ Mon, 10 Sep 2018 06:50:49 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=7935 “According to a new study by Chinese researchers, . So far, manufacturers used silicon to make solar panels, as this material was the most efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. However, organic photovoltaics (OPV) made from carbon and plastic, could be just as effective. Flexible and efficient: The cells are so pliable they can effectively turn any surface into a solar array – from buildings, to vehicles or even clothing. Organic photovoltaics do not require fixed installation points, as they can be made of compounds which are dissolved in ink. Thus, they can be printed on thin rolls of plastic, […]

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]]> “According to a new study by Chinese researchers, a new generation of organic solar cells could produce cheaper electricity  Tweet This!.

So far, manufacturers used silicon to make solar panels, as this material was the most efficient at converting sunlight into electricity. However, organic photovoltaics (OPV) made from carbon and plastic, could be just as effective.

Flexible and efficient: The cells are so pliable they can effectively turn any surface into a solar array – from buildings, to vehicles or even clothing.

Organic photovoltaics do not require fixed installation points, as they can be made of compounds which are dissolved in ink. Thus, they can be printed on thin rolls of plastic, bend or curve around structures or even be incorporated into clothing.

As regards efficiency (percentage of sunlight turned into usable electricity), commercial solar photovoltaics typically covert 15-22% of sunlight into electricity, with organic solar cells remaining, thus far, at approximately half this rate. However, in April this year, researchers reached 15% in tests and this new study increased this percentage to 17%, with its authors arguing that up to 25% is possible.

With a 15% efficiency and a 20 year lifetime, organic solar cells could, accordingly, produce cheaper electricity, at a cost of not more than 7 cents per kilowatt-hour. (In 2017, the average cost of electricity in the US was 10.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.)

A wide range of applications – “Skyscrapers could soon generate their own power”

Highly flexible, organic photovoltaics offer numerous possibilities.

  • They can be made semi-transparent and be incorporated into windows, generating power during daylight. According to the Science Mag “Skyscrapers could soon generate their own power”.
  • According to Dr Alexander Colsmann, an expert on organic photovoltaics from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, organic solar cells could “power mobile applications – camping gear, smart wearables or phone chargers, just to name a few – which have been only insufficiently addressed by classical solar cell technologies such as silicon.” They could also be used on the roofs of cars, in clothes and even in glasses, to charge your mobile phone when you are out and about.
  • According to the University of Melbourne: “They can turn almost any surface into a solar array and provide a cheap and almost limitless energy supply … Organic Solar cells have the potential to perform dual environmental functions, like covering surfaces of lakes or other large expanses to water to help prevent evaporation while simultaneously generating energy. Another is as temporary covers on grain silos in central Australia, to prevent overheating while powering the fans that stop the grain from sweating”.

How far are organic photovoltaics from commercial production?

Not too far away, according to researchers. Dr Yongsheng Chen compares organic photovoltaics to organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), a technology that has been introduced recently and is widely used for high-end TVs. “These are already commercial, and they use a similar material to OPV,” says Dr Chen.

“The physical principle is the same, just a different direction, one is from solar to electricity, the other from electricity to light, the device and structure are similar.”

Other experts in the field were also impressed. “The development of such new materials with previously unthinkable properties allowed them to achieve the reported record efficiency and, in general, makes OPV technology much more promising,” said Dr Artem Bakulin, from Imperial College London.

 

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

 

References:

This article is based on published information at the links below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the articles meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following links:

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/06/skyscrapers-could-soon-generate-their-own-power-thanks-see-through-solar-cells
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/features/making-any-surface-solar
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45132427

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]]> Dutch company to utilize the heat of computer servers to meet households’ hot water needs https://sustaincase.com/dutch-company-to-utilize-the-heat-of-computer-servers-to-meet-households-hot-water-needs/ Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:03:20 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=3937 Dutch company Nerdalize has developed a heating system that utilizes the residual heat of computer servers to meet the hot water needs of households. This heating system significantly reduces CO2 emissions and can save Dutch households approximately €300 per year on heating costs. Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Nerdalize plans to equip the first 42 Dutch households with this innovative heating system in August, as a first step in providing free heat from computer servers to everyone in the Netherlands. The system was tested in 2015, in five households: servers were put in houses and their heat was turned into […]

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]]> Dutch company Nerdalize has developed a heating system that utilizes the residual heat of computer servers to meet the hot water needs of households. This heating system significantly reduces CO2 emissions and can save Dutch households approximately €300 per year on heating costs.

Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Nerdalize plans to equip the first 42 Dutch households with this innovative heating system in August, as a first step in providing free heat from computer servers to everyone in the Netherlands.

The system was tested in 2015, in five households: servers were put in houses and their heat was turned into usable heat by means of a radiator, with no energy wasted to cool servers. In a new version, the servers can be connected to the central heating system, and the heat can be used for hot water over the whole year. Moreover, as Nerdalize does not, as a result, have to build expensive data centers, money is saved and CO2 emissions are cut – today, data centers emit more CO2 than the world’s airline industry  Tweet This!.

Up to now 3,500 people have shown interest in this heating system and Boaz Leupe, co-founder of Nerdalize, has raised €250,000 using the crowdfunding platform Symbid.

 

References:

This article was compiled using a press release by Nerdalize. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the press release’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the link below:

https://www.nerdalize.com/blog/2017/05/31/first-42-dutch-households-take-a-smart-shower-with-free-server-heat/

 

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]]> How the World Bank takes action on UN’s Sustainable Development Goals https://sustaincase.com/how-the-world-bank-takes-action-on-uns-sustainable-development-goals/ Mon, 19 Dec 2016 07:28:14 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=2132 Committed to eradicating extreme poverty and supporting shared, sustainable prosperity across the globe, the World Bank takes action to advance UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, the World Bank adopts, in its sustainability reporting, the GRI-G4 guidelines and identifies its most important sustainability issues based on GRI-G4 aspect categories. Examples of such action include: The World Bank takes action to measure, manage and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, maximize its energy and water efficiency and promote sustainability in its supply chain. These priorities relate to SDG 12 (“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”) and to a […]

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]]>

Committed to eradicating extreme poverty and supporting shared, sustainable prosperity across the globe, the World Bank takes action to advance UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, the World Bank adopts, in its sustainability reporting, the GRI-G4 guidelines and identifies its most important sustainability issues based on GRI-G4 aspect categories. Examples of such action include:

  • The World Bank takes action to measure, manage and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, maximize its energy and water efficiency and promote sustainability in its supply chain. These priorities relate to SDG 12 (“Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”) and to a number of GRI-G4 indicators (for example, G4-EN3, G4-EN5, G4-EN6, G4-EN15, G4-EN19, G4-EN32).bada1dd2ff6eab6771b01e17a2b4cf98ce79aecc35f0270712pimgpsh_fullsize_distr
  • The World Bank strives to combat climate change by reducing emissions – in 2015, the World Bank reduced its emissions by 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) –, implementing energy efficiency improvements at its offices globally and reducing electricity consumption at its headquarters. These goals are in line with SDG 13 (“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”) and several GRI-G4 indicators (for example, G4-EN6, G4-EN15, G4-EN16, G4-EN17, G4-EN18, G4-EN19).88df3f61e86e2aa4c7e092c6a36c7bb00fe3f16518d6517cf5pimgpsh_fullsize_distr
  • Promoting gender equality in the workplace, the World Bank achieved “EDGE Assess” certification for its headquarters in Washington, DC (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality, or EDGE, is the leading global standard for gender equality at work). This target corresponds to SDG 5 (“Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”) and GRI-G4 indicators G4-LA12 and G4-LA13.
  • The World Bank created the Open Learning Campus (OLC), offering employees, clients and partners further education opportunities. This initiative is related to SDG 4 (“Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”) and GRI-G4 indicators G4-LA9 and G4-LA10.

 

References:

This article was compiled using information published at the links below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses but made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the links below:

https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/committed-sustainability-five-world-bank-corporate-actions-support-sdgs

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/25110/108335.pdf

http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/annual-report

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/22723

 

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]]> Case study: How Walmart is reducing energy intensity and emissions in its operations https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-walmart-is-reducing-energy-intensity-and-emissions-in-its-operations/ Fri, 25 Nov 2016 11:42:40 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=1905 With 11,530 stores and hundreds of millions of customers across the planet, Walmart is committed to doing its part in the global efforts to combat climate change – caused, not least, by increased greenhouse gas emissions –, continually improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in its operations. This case study is based on the 2016 Global Responsibility Report by Walmart published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and […]

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]]> With 11,530 stores and hundreds of millions of customers across the planet, Walmart is committed to doing its part in the global efforts to combat climate change – caused, not least, by increased greenhouse gas emissions –, continually improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions in its operations.

This case study is based on the 2016 Global Responsibility Report by Walmart published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing. 

Abstract

Committed to joining global efforts to stop global warming, Walmart is actively striving to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in its operations. In order to succeed in its efforts to reduce its energy intensity and emissions, Walmart took action to:

  • Invest in renewable energy sources
  • Reduce Walmart’s energy demand through energy efficiency
  • Improve refrigeration systems in Walmart’s stores
  • Increase the efficiency of Walmart’s U.S. fleet

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2016 Global Responsibility Report Walmart identified a range of material issues, such as supporting local manufacturing, continuing responsible sourcing practices, ensuring food and product safety, eliminating waste in operations, supporting local community causes. Among these, in the face of global warming and amidst global efforts to combat climate change, reducing energy intensity and emissions in its operations stands out as a key material issue for Walmart.

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organization should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.

Key stakeholder groups Walmart engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Associates
Suppliers
Advisory councils
Community leaders
Grantees
NGOs
Government leaders
Investors

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

Walmart engaged with its stakeholders, to explore their perspectives on its most important issues, through interviews, discussions, working sessions and surveys, which included a 1,750-respondent survey carried out by Sustainalytics.

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What actions were taken by Walmart to reduce energy intensity and emissions in its operations?

In its 2016 Global Responsibility Report Walmart reports that it took the following actions for reducing energy intensity and emissions in its operations:

  • Investing in renewable energy sources
  • 2015: Walmart had more than 2 billion kWh of renewable energy installed or contracted from over 470 projects globally.
  • Walmart covers 25% of its energy needs worldwide from renewable energy sources.
  • Reducing Walmart’s energy demand through energy efficiency
  • 2014: Walmart installed more than 10,000 high-efficiency rooftop heating and cooling units (RTUs), saving 89 million kWh per year.
  • 2015: Walmart operated with 10% less energy per square foot (compared to 2010), a 1% improvement in comparison with 2014.
  • Improving refrigeration systems in Walmart’s stores
  • Walmart is incorporating refrigeration and store designs that facilitate the transition from high Global Warming Potential refrigerants (GWP) to the use of new, environmentally friendly, refrigerant gases and less HFC-reliant systems (hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases)
  • Increasing the efficiency of Walmart’s U.S. fleet
  • [tweetthis]2015: Walmart doubled the efficiency of its U.S. fleet[/tweetthis], avoiding emissions of almost 650,000 metric tons of CO2.

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EN3: Energy consumption within the organization – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 302-1 Energy consumption within the organization

2) G4-EN15: Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1) – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 305-1 Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions

3) G4-EN16: Energy indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 2) – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 305-2 Energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions

4) G4-EN17: Other indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 3) – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 305-3 Other indirect (Scope 3) GHG emissions

5) G4-EN18: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 305-4 GHG emissions intensity

6) G4-EN19: Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 305-5 Reduction of GHG emissions

7) G4-EN30: Significant environmental impacts of transporting products and other goods and materials for the organization’s operations, and transporting members of the workforce

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by Walmart, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

Note to Walmart: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.

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]]> Case study: How E.ON is developing environmentally friendly products and services to become the partner of choice for energy solutions https://sustaincase.com/case-study-how-e-on-is-developing-environmentally-friendly-products-and-services-to-ensure-it-is-the-partner-of-choice-for-energy-solutions/ Fri, 14 Oct 2016 09:49:56 +0000 https://ccprowebs.com/new-sustaincase.com/?p=1705 E.ON, a European German-based Energy service provider is facing up to a changing landscape and embracing new significant challenges by applying greater focus on climate-friendly products and services. In the words of E.ON’s C.E.O., Dr. Johannes Teyssen “A new energy world is emerging, one that’s decentralized, green, and interconnected. E.ON’s entire business is now geared toward this emerging world”. This case study is based on the 2014 Sustainability Report by E.ON published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at the following link. Through all case studies, we aim to demonstrate that CSR / sustainability […]

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]]> E.ON, a European German-based Energy service provider is facing up to a changing landscape and embracing new significant challenges by applying greater focus on climate-friendly products and services. In the words of E.ON’s C.E.O., Dr. Johannes Teyssen “A new energy world is emerging, one that’s decentralized, green, and interconnected. E.ON’s entire business is now geared toward this emerging world”.

This case study is based on the 2014 Sustainability Report by E.ON published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at the following link. Through all case studies, we aim to demonstrate that CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Developing environmentally friendly products and services is a key priority for E.ON  Tweet This! amidst the transformation of the energy industry and its efforts to combat climate change. As a result, E.ON has been able to offer green power products, promote climate-friendly mobility through the use of Electric vehicles (EVs) and Natural-gas-powered vehicles (NPVs) and provide consumers with smart meters and energy-saving solutions. Through various partnerships and research projects E.ON has also developed smart technology for homes and commercial buildings that offers significant energy savings.

What are the material issues the company has identified?

In its 2014 Sustainability Report E.ON identified a wide range of material issues, such as the environmental impacts caused by greenhouse-gas emissions, customer satisfaction including pricing and labelling, waste management, including radioactive waste, emergency preparedness and response plans, responsible handling of customer data. Among these, the need to develop environmentally friendly products and services stands out as a critical issue.

 

Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:

“The organisation should identify its stakeholders, and explain how it has responded to their reasonable expectations.”

Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting responsibly.

 

Key stakeholder groups E.ON engages with:

Stakeholder Group
Customers
Shareholders and investors
Employees
Suppliers and business partners
Communities and regions
Policymakers, society, and the general public
NGOs and sustainability experts

 

How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues

E.ON interacts with its stakeholders in a variety of ways and forums, depending on the stakeholder group and the issue. These range from simply providing information to involving stakeholders closely in its decision-making processes. In 2014 E.ON held stakeholder surveys and discussions on the development of its corporate strategy. The basis of these were the eight megatrends identified the year before by its Strategy department in close collaboration with renowned external experts from the scientific and political community, customers, business partners and the company’s own senior executives. This was followed up during the year by numerous internal workshops and events with employees. In them, E.ON discussed strategy elements, options and corporate values. The rounds of discussions were a key component of the overall strategy process. This ensured that E.ON’s new strategic focus had a broad base and met key stakeholders’ expectations.

In 2014 E.ON Sverige conducted a regional materiality analysis with customers, journalists, environmental and sustainability experts, politicians and other stakeholders. 250 people were invited to complete an online survey. Of those, 134 (over half) provided feedback.

As part of the E.ON in Dialog communications campaign launched in Germany in 2006, E.ON deploys its employees as E.ON ambassadors. This enables them to field stakeholders’ questions, concerns and complaints. In 2014 around 165 employees were involved in the campaign, spending 78 days spread throughout the year working as ambassadors. They proactively engaged in dialogue with visitors at 36 events to explain E.ON’s position on current energy policy issues. Almost 30,000 visitors – of whom 2,600 were from a political background – visited one of E.ON’s dialogue booths. For the first time in 2014 E.ON also organised micro-conferences in Germany as part of E.ON in Dialog, holding 34 events of this type in Hamburg at the leading international trade fair WindEnergy.

E.ON also participates in a number of international forums and initiatives, such as Bettercoal, an initiative established by leading European power companies that aims to improve sustainability in the coal supply chain and the World Energy Council (WEC), campaigning globally for an affordable, reliable and eco-friendly energy supply.

 

What actions were taken by E.ON to develop environmentally friendly products and services?

E.ON set the following targets regarding the development of environmentally friendly products and services, based on the Group’s approach to materiality – on taking action on what matters, where it matters:

  • Offering green power products

E.ON offers residential and business customers a variety of green power products in response to the public’s heightened environmental awareness. E.ON sold 10 TWh of green power in 2014, which represented 4.5 percent of its total retail sales volume in its eleven markets. In the summer of 2014 E.ON introduced a TÜV-certified green power product for wholesale customers in response to their demand to support renewable energy producers directly. At least 60 percent of the guarantees of origin came from E.ON assets, half from hydroelectric stations in Germany, half from wind farms in Italy.

  • Promoting climate-friendly mobility

E.ON promotes low-carbon mobility with vehicles powered by electricity and natural gas. With manufacturers offering better electric vehicles, E.ON expects this market segment to grow significantly and undertook projects to raise awareness and encourage people to embrace e-mobility. Natural-gas-powered vehicles (NPVs) emit approximately 25 per cent less carbon dioxide than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles. E.ON currently operates more than 120 NPV fuelling stations in Germany and 63 in Sweden, of which 42 are open to the public and 21 are for public transport vehicles.

  • Providing consumers with smart meters and energy-saving solutions

An EU directive enacted in 2009 requires member states to provide end-customers with smart power and gas meters that enable them to continually monitor their energy usage. Its purpose is to give consumers a more pro-active role in the energy market and to create incentives for greater energy efficiency. E.ON has completed the rollout of smart meters in Sweden and Spain and began the rollout in the United Kingdom in 2012, expecting to equip all of its 8 million plus customers there with a smart meter by 2021. A smart meter is an essential component for many energy-saving solutions, including “100Koll”, a toolkit E.ON designed for residential customers in Sweden. They can use it to monitor their electricity consumption in real time. It also gives customers the capability to remotely turn on and off appliances and other electronic devices. In 2014 E.ON provided the 100Koll toolkit to more than 120,000 customers, making it the company’s biggest-ever product launch. Another solution – the Customer Engagement Toolkit, which E.ON introduced in October 2013 – enables E.ON’s residential customers in the United Kingdom to monitor their energy usage and compare it with that of similar households. Participants can use social media like Facebook and Twitter to share their energy-saving successes with others.

  • Providing business customers with energy-efficiency solutions

In 2014 E.ON Connecting Energies (ECT) significantly expanded its service offerings to industrial, commercial and public-sector customers. ECT designs, finances, installs and operates on-site generation equipment and systems that deliver average savings of 50 percent and in some cases up to 80 percent. The decisive incentive is that customers bear little cost in becoming more energy efficient because ECT pays the up-front costs and guarantees savings. The wider portfolio of services includes ECT Potsdam which provides companies with the ability to monitor and control equipment powered by all types of fuel 24/7. E.ON’s small and medium-sized enterprise customers in the United Kingdom have access to the Saving Energy Toolkit, which provides a variety of tips, including advice on energy-saving machinery and equipment. More than 40,000 of the company’s SME customers used the toolkit in 2014.

  • Developing smart technology for homes and commercial buildings that delivers tangible energy savings

A series of pilot projects called “E-Energy: Smart Energy made in Germany” demonstrated that smart technology can help households reduce consumption by up to 10 percent and businesses by up to 20 percent. E.ON is helping to realise this potential through a variety of research and pilot projects. In early 2014 E.ON expanded its partnership with U.S.-based GreenWave Reality to improve its ability to offer customers secure, individually tailored solutions combining energy management and smart home infrastructure. In the same year E.ON also became an investor and partner in Leeo, a U.S.-based company that develops and provides smart home solutions consisting of simple and intelligent plug-and-play devices and related data services.

 

Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?

The GRI indicators/Standards addressed in this case are:

1) G4-EN4: Energy consumption outside of the organization – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 302-2 Energy consumption outside of the organization

2) G4-EN7: Reductions in energy requirements of products and services – the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 302-5 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services

3) G4-EN27: Extent of impact mitigation of environmental impacts of products and services

 

E.ON Facts and Figures:

E.ON is an international privately-owned energy supplier which is focused on renewables, energy networks and customer solutions, which are the building blocks of the new energy world. The conventional generation and energy trading businesses were combined into a distinct company, Uniper, as per 1st January, 2016. E.ON did spin off the majority of Uniper to E.ON’s shareholders and Uniper has been independently listed since September 12, 2016.

E.ON Group highlights

EUR in millions 2015 2014 +/- %
Electricity sales (billion kWh) 780.9 780.2 –
Gas sales (billion kWh) 1,721.8 1,171.0 +47
Sales 116,218 113,095 +3
EBITDA 7,557 8,376 -10
EBIT 4,369 4,695 -7
Underlying net income 1,648 1,646 –
Investments 4,174 4,637 -10
Employees (at year-end) 56,490 58,811 -4

 

References:

1) This case study is based on published information by E.ON, located at the links below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the following links:

http://database.globalreporting.org/

http://www.eon.com/en/about-us/profile.html (Retrieved Oct 2016)

http://www.eon.com/en/about-us/profile/facts-and-figures.html (Retrieved Oct 2016)

2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page

3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx

4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/

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