Creating a global sustainability strategy
A leading global manufacturer looked to Summit Energy to develop and implement a North American sustainability strategy that aligned with the company’s global objectives.
Sustainability Requires Global Leadership: Executing a plan for reducing a company’s carbon emissions on a global scale is an ambitious task, and one that must be evaluated carefully. A successful plan requires corporate emphasis on sustainability as well as market knowledge of energy options in various countries. However, many companies find it challenging to formulate a strategy that addresses the distinct circumstances in various locations while maintaining a comprehensive approach.
SITUATION
A leading global manufacturer decided that demonstrating sustainability was important to remaining competitive in the marketplace. To kick off its own sustainability initiative, the company instituted a corporate-wide directive to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions and implemented a sustainability strategy for its European plants. Unfortunately, when it came time to address sustainability for its North American plants, differences in laws and requirements made it impossible to simply duplicate the European plan. In order to achieve success on a global scale, the company needed a North American strategy that would work in unison with the European one already in place. The manufacturer turned to Summit for leadership and guidance in resolving its dilemma.
LEADERSHIP
Summit recommended a Sustainability Exchange workshop to guide the manufacturer through the process of defining and clarifying sustainability goals and determining a cohesive plan for the future. Summit’s deep knowledge and experience in the global energy markets offer a strong foundation for companies that want custom sustainability strategies. By participating in a Sustainability Exchange workshop, the manufacturer was able to articulate its vision for North America and work with Summit to develop a roadmap that documented prioritized objectives and actionable steps.
In addition to the sustainability roadmap, Summit quantified the level of investment needed from the manufacturer and provided options for ways to save with consumption-reducing initiatives.
RESULTS
With a formalized plan in place, the manufacturer was on its way to meeting an ambitious 5% global carbon reduction goal, year-over-year, for five years. The sustainability strategy formulated for North America integrated well with the European one, and these complementary plans refined the company’s overall global approach to sustainability. As a result, the manufacturer attained a competitive advantage in the European and global market, where progressive environmental initiatives reign.
