Fashion retail giant
and US-based LED lighting manufacturer Cree have become the latest two high profile firms to pledge to double their energy productivity under the EP100 initiative.
The EP100 scheme, which is led by The Climate Group, is a sister campaign to the RE100 initiative that sees firms commit to sourcing 100 per cent of their power commit to sourcing renewable power. To date 12 multinational firms have signed up to the campaign, setting clear targets to double their energy productivity.
“H&M and Cree have been taking bold steps on energy productivity and we are delighted to welcome them to EP100 and showcase their ambitions to link smarter energy use with business growth objectives,” said Jenny Chu, head of energy productivity initiatives at The Climate Group, in a statement. “We know that business accounts for about half of the electricity used worldwide, and by focusing on energy productivity outcomes, companies like H&M and Cree demonstrate that corporates can reduce their own energy demand, improve their bottom lines and contribute to hitting the targets of the Paris Agreement.”
As part of its EP100 pledge, H&M said its plans to ensure that by 2030 its new stores are using 40 per cent less energy per square meter, compared to those constructed today. The also said it plans to in new lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve its operational energy productivity across its existing estate.
Significantly, the company added that it aims to have 100 per cent of its supplier partners enrolled in an energy efficiency program by 2025, while also reducing energy use through its transport, logistics, and distribution operations.
Similarly, Cree said joining EP100 would help it build on its record of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over 1,000,000lbs between 2015 and 2016.
“Joining EP100 is a natural for us, as improving energy productivity is the essence of what we do at Cree,” said Greg Merritt, vice president for marketing and public affairs at Cree. “Our constant innovations in LEDs, LED lighting and other Cree technologies enable people to do more and consume less.”
Pierre Borjesson, global sustainability business expert at H&M, said enhancing energy productivity was a “fundamental part” of the company’s wider sustainability strategy, which has seen it commit to sourcing 100 per cent renewable energy and introduce a number of new sustainable fashion ranges.
“We have long been working to reduce our climate impact and recently launched our new commitment to achieve a climate positive value chain by 2040,” he said. “This means H&M will support reductions of greenhouse gases to a larger extent than what our value chain emits. Two of our key priorities are leadership in energy productivity and using renewable energy throughout the value chain.”
The news comes a year after the initial launch of EP100 and sees H&M and Cree join the likes of Johnson Controls, Swiss Re, Danfoss and Dalmia Cement as part of the group.
Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, which also supports the EP100 initiative, urged other firms to set public energy productivity targets.
“EP100 is a unique chance for companies to demonstrate the business case for clean energy through the adoption of the ambitious goal of doubling energy productivity,” she said. “Leading by example, H&M, Cree and all other EP100 companies are helping us build a stronger economy and a healthier, more prosperous world through the deployment of the efficient technologies and practices we know create jobs and improve the environment.”
Source: businessgreen.com
