BAE Systems plans to set targets for energy, water and waste starting this year, according to the company’s integrated 2010 corporate responsibility and annual report.
Business conduct and safety were BAE’s two key corporate responsibility priorities in 2010, the report said. But the company said it is increasing its focus on environmental performance, which has “the potential to impact the long-term sustainability of the group”.
Last year BAE established an Environmental Sustainability Steering Group, comprising senior business and functional managers and chaired by the managing director of corporate responsibility. In 2011, the environment has been added to a BAE executive committee objective on moving towards a recognized leadership position in responsible behavior, the report said.
BAE reported that its CO2 emissions were up 14 percent in 2009, from 1.2 million to 1.4 million tons. The company attributes this increase to data collection improvements, plus a slight increase in energy use. BAE said it made a number of improvements in the accuracy and expansion of data collection systems, to include energy use from coal in the U.S. and estimated data for a further 102 small offices.
The company had previously reported that emissions were up in 2008, due to acquisitions and improvements in data collection.
CO2 was up last year across all BAE operating groups except International. It was also up across all scopes: 1, 2 and 3.
The report does not include environmental data for 2010, which it says will be externally compiled by the Coefficient Company and published on BAE’s website this year.
BAE is planning $2 million in energy efficiency investments, to be completed by the middle of this year, at its Greenlawn, N.Y., facility. The project includes heating and cooling system upgrades, high-efficiency pumps, motors and controls, and measures that will reduce electric and natural gas consumption.
