Engine maker Cummins Inc. has set two new environmental sustainability goals for its products in-use and the logistics of its managed freight.
The new goals are part of Cummins' broader effort to reduce its environmental footprint.
Last year, the company announced its first comprehensive global environmental sustainability plan, including goals for water, waste, and energy use in Cummins facilities and operations.
Cummins' mission demands that everything the company does leads to a cleaner, healthier, safer environment. The company is now taking the next step in fulfilling this mission and building on its long history of environmental leadership.
The company is making a difference in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by partnering with customers to improve the fuel efficiency of its products in use, the largest part of the company's CO2 footprint. Cummins is now raising the bar by pledging to reach an annual reduction of 3.5 million metric tonnes (3.86 million U.S. tons) of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2020. That equals 350 million gallons of fuel.
"With millions of engines and generators in service around the world, there's no question in my mind that Cummins has the global reach to make a difference for the environment," said Brian Mormino, executive director worldwide environmental strategy and compliance, Cummins Inc.
By the end of 2020, the company expects to reach 20% of its customers, cumulatively saving them 1.6 billion gallons of fuel, $6 billion, and more than 15 million metric tonnes (16.5 million U.S. tons) of CO2. That equals taking 3.2 million passenger vehicles off the road.
In 2014 alone, the company's fuel efficiency work reduced CO2 emissions from products in use equal to the CO2 footprint of Cummins global facilities.
In addition to improving the fuel efficiency of products in use, Cummins is pledging to use the most efficient methods to move goods across the Cummins network. Its goal is to reduce CO2 by 10% per kilogram (4.5% per pound) of goods moved by 2020.
As part of its supply chain strategy, Cummins has adopted a global transportation management system to improve the speed and efficiency of goods moved and to improve end-to-end visibility to manage the process. Adding a goal for CO2 reduction not only will quantify the environmental benefit that the company expects to achieve through this system, but to accelerate and expand its efforts globally.
"We view our environmental sustainability plan as a process of continuous improvement," said Mormino. "Cummins will continue to develop more strategies as our efforts mature and set new goals after we meet existing targets. Our company is currently focusing on environmental strategies for new products and supplier engagement and will talk more about that as those plans are finalized."
The company's 2014-2015 Sustainability Report, which will be published May 12, 2015, will offer more details about progress toward meeting the stated goals in water, waste, and energy.
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