Energy & Infrastructure

Every day, SCA’s converting facility in Greenwich, NY, receives shipments of giant paper rolls for converting to SCA products, like napkins, towels and bath tissue. The rolls are supported by wood pallets to keep them stable inside the tractor trailer. Prior to the winter of 2015, once the materials were offloaded inside, the pallets went unused, sitting in an ever-growing pile outside the facility.

General Motors achieved a record number of landfill-free facilities in 2016, exceeding its commitment four years early. The company now operates 152 global facilities that recycle, reuse or convert to energy all waste from daily operations. These 52 non-manufacturing sites and 100 manufacturing sites contribute to GM’s top and bottom lines by driving efficiencies, generating revenue and saving money.

Germany-based solar energy provider Little Sun has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) by committing to provide clean and affordable solar lighting to 5 million people in Africa while bringing livelihood opportunities and training to at least 4,000 local micro-entrepreneur distributors until 2020.

An international oil & gas refiner and retailer engaged Antea Group to design a program to maximize cost recovery across its vast U.S. portfolio. Antea Group's program resulted in the recovery of over $350 Million of recovered funds, over $22 Million in historical costs previously missed, a 100% spend-to-submit ratio on eligible sites, and much more..

Sustainability at Domtar is our endeavor to take a longer-term view of creating and preserving shareholder value. We accomplish this by considering how we respond to and contribute to emerging opportunities and risks in the world around us. Our 2016 Sustainability Update provides insight into our priorities on the journey towards becoming a more sustainable business. Click here to read the full update, and view updated performance metrics here.

Over 1,300 places of worship and nonprofit organizations across Michigan will save at least $1.5 million on their energy bills next year, benefitting from a 4-year-old campaign by Consumers Energy to help them put more money toward helping those in need.

Solar energy provider Nizam Bijli has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to reach 1 million off-grid rural beneficiaries in Pakistan with affordable solar energy solutions, access to financial services and health insurance by 2020. In addition, the company commits to support 25,000 micro-entrepreneur distributors (including 2,500 women), and train 500 technical support staff.

In the past year, Honda’s North American plants have undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce their energy usage and many of them are finding success through the usage of LED lighting.

What I found heartening in this year’s COP experience is the continued resilience of climate negotiators, especially those from developing and small island states as well as the ongoing tenacity of NGOs that work valiantly on mitigation and adaptation efforts around the world. Even more so, I was proud of the business engagement.