Climate Action

If someone asked you to name the top challenge presented by urbanization and our escalating world population, what would you say? One answer could be: the ever-increasing need for energy – which is one of the most basic dilemmas of modern life. But with the right approach, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity.

The days of the linear economy are numbered. Businesses the world over are finding innovation and growth by striking out in a circular direction. More than simply doing “less bad,” we are seeing the advent of regenerative practices and net positive solutions – and that gives me hope.

The Circular Collection by Bayou with Love, a jewelry line made from gold recovered from computer motherboards collected through Dell’s recycling programs. The collaboration brings visibility to the importance and value of recycling and sustainable design. It also supports Dell’s Legacy of Good goals to collect 2 billion pounds of e-waste and recycle 100 million pounds of recycled content into its product portfolio by 2020. The gold reclamation process created by Dell partner, Wistron GreenTech, has a 99% lower environmental impact than traditionally mined gold. In addition to the jewelry collection, the reclamation process is used on an industry first pilot to reuse gold from e-waste in millions of new computer motherboards including the Latitude 5285 2-in-1.

I’ve had the privilege of sharing Andrew Winston’s company twice, and he’s simply brilliant. I hope you read and enjoy his writing.

In 2010, PNC set ambitious environmental performance goals to reduce carbon emissions and energy and water consumption by 30 percent by 2020.

The company met its carbon reduction goal in 2016 and is on track to meet its energy reduction goal by the end of 2017. Due to improvements like new lighting and heating, and ventilation and air conditioning systems, PNC’s branches and office buildings use less energy than ever. PNC also attributes this success to its hands-on, direct approach to managing energy in its more than 27 million square feet of real estate. This in-house approach has proven to have a direct impact on reducing consumption.

Capitalizing on sustained low natural gas prices, the United States has seen a fair amount of build-out of new pipeline infrastructure to reach new markets since last year’s Strategic Directions: Natural Gas Industry Report. Additionally, the changeover in administrations at the federal level is widely seen as favorable for continued industry growth. However, despite announced intentions to immediately accelerate energy infrastructure development, several bumps have been encountered right out of the gate.

Employees play a key role in making HP’s sustainability strategy a success. And many of them embrace sustainability not just as part of their jobs, but as integral to their daily lives.