Maeve Tropf:<\/strong> At Steelcase, sustainability has been a big part of our culture for a long time. Thanks to the efforts of our founders, we\u2019ve been recognized as one of the earliest manufacturers to prioritize high environmental standards.<\/p>\n Greenhouse gas emissions in our atmosphere have steadily increased since the world became industrialized, and this is the primary cause of the human-influenced climate change we are experiencing today. Already, people in parts of the world have begun to experience negative impacts of climate change, such as flooding and extreme heat waves. And the science tells us that we\u2019re headed toward some really drastic, destabilizing conditions unless we get emissions under control through significant reductions and removing as much carbon from the atmosphere as we emit \u2014 in other words, unless we collectively become carbon neutral by 2050.<\/p>\n And yet, despite our achievements far surpassing our previous emissions reduction targets or becoming carbon neutral this year, a really big deal for us \u2013 we realized that this is just the beginning. We need to do more, because climate change is the most pressing environmental crisis the world is facing. The enormity of it is a bit terrifying, but as a manufacturer, we know that we have a big role to play in being part of the collective solution, and our impact can be lasting.<\/p>\n So, over the next decade, we plan to reduce our emissions at the rate that\u2019s needed to help prevent the worst impacts of climate change. We\u2019re joining with other pioneering companies worldwide who share the commitment, and we hope our actions will help inspire and empower others.<\/p>\n 360: What does it mean for Steelcase to\u00a0achieve science-based targets by 2030? Why will it take 10 years?<\/strong><\/p>\n MT:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s our belief that companies need to do the hard work to reduce emissions in line with climate science. This means doing more than becoming carbon neutral through offsetting our existing emissions.<\/p>\n For Steelcase, we looked to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for best practices, trajectories and metrics based on an absolute contraction methodology for what we need to achieve. We chose the most ambitious trajectory. It will require some strategic investments and can\u2019t happen all at once. But with planning, we\u2019re confident it\u2019s doable within this decade.<\/p>\n Our targets are aligned with the most ambitious recommendation of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. That may not sound like much, but it is. For comparison, scientists say that if global warming were to increase significantly beyond 2 degrees Celsius, we\u2018d experience dramatic and dire consequences. It\u2019s important to recognize this is a tremendous undertaking, and we believe setting science-based targets is the most important component of our strategy and translates to a 50% emissions reduction by 2030.<\/p>\n While we aim to achieve our targets over the next decade, we\u2019ll keep our commitment to sustaining carbon neutrality.\u00a0Throughout the time horizon, we will evaluate our progress and our existing investments. While both\u00a0absolute reductions through things like energy efficiency and sustained financing of carbon offset projects\u00a0will be necessary along the pathway us there, the former is the preferred business approach. Because offsets are a compensation mechanism for emissions taking place elsewhere, and diminishing actual emissions at the fastest rate is the priority both for our bottom line and for the environment.<\/p>\n 360: How does Steelcase plan to hit a 50% reduction target?<\/strong><\/p>\n MT:<\/strong> We\u2019ve already identified more than 40 opportunities \u2014 things like continuing to convert our facilities to LED lighting, installing advanced controls and occupancy sensors and conducting audits to identify air leaks and, of course, fix them.<\/p>\n We\u2019re also looking to advocate for more renewable energy direct supply in markets where we operate, instead of procuring fossil fuel generated energy for our operations. As well, we\u2019re considering the viability of installing solar panels in some of our locations to produce clean and renewable energy onsite. That\u2019s a big investment for sure, but it would also adequately display the nature of our commitment and could secure savings over its lifetime.<\/p>\n 360: OK, you\u2019ve convinced me that Steelcase is seriously committed to mitigating climate change. But realistically, how much can just one company achieve? And what do you see looking forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n MT:<\/strong> It\u2019s true, even though Steelcase has locations around the world and employs over 12,700 people, we\u2019re still relatively small compared to all other carbon emitters in today\u2019s economy. So, as demanding as this effort is for us, we know that addressing climate change requires collective action.<\/p>\n It is also true that our emissions beyond our own operations account for a significant portion of our total impact. Our plan also involves urging others to come along with us on this journey.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll be encouraging most of our suppliers to set their own science-based targets, as securing their participation is also one of our targets by 2025. And we\u2019ll be engaging with customers to identify ways we can help them achieve their own goals, whether that\u2019s through sharing best practices, developing different product offerings or meeting new expectations they may establish for suppliers they want to continue doing business with over time.<\/p>\n There are also things like travel \u2014 anytime one of us jumps in a car or flight on behalf of the company, there are carbon consequences. Similarly, with waste generated during our manufacturing process, there are many indirect emissions associated with our business that we\u2019re actively working to reduce through our new targets, that extend well beyond the four walls of our organization.<\/p>\n We\u2019re also raising awareness through proactive advocacy efforts. Whether here in the US or abroad, this conversation is happening at the local, regional and national levels, and we\u2019re looking for ways we can engage, learn and make progress together globally.<\/p>\n There definitely needs to be a broad ripple effect involved in building a decarbonized economy. While it\u2019s true Steelcase can only achieve so much on our own, we\u2019re also convinced we have an important role to play. As our CEO recently said, \u201cWe are only one company, but as the industry leader, we have a corporate responsibility to take on global challenges and inspire others. Business can be a force for good and we hope you\u2019ll join us in making a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Steelcase made news recently by announcing it has become carbon neutral and, even more significant, it set science-based targets that intends to achieve by 2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":612050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[47663],"class_list":["post-612151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","industry-workplace","topic-people-planet"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/steelcase-res.cloudinary.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_100,w_100\/v1611790187\/www.steelcase.com\/2021\/01\/27\/21-0152693.jpg\")
Maeve Tropf leads the energy, climate and renewables team at Steelcase Inc., which is responsible for developing the recently announced corporate carbon strategy that includes becoming operationally carbon neutral and setting, ambitious science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"