Despite missing its target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 15 percent between fiscal year 2004 and 2009, Bombardier Inc. has cut its GHG emissions by 10 percent and aims to reduce emissions by an additional 10 percent by 2015, according to the firm's latest corporate social responsibility report. The company said it missed its emissions reduction goal due to production volume increases at its aerospace operations.
However, the global transportation equipment manufacturer exceeded its five-year 15-percent reduction target for energy use, water consumption, and hazardous waste.
Bombardier used fiscal 2009 data to perform a detailed inventory of energy sources and GHG emissions at 85 sites, which enabled the company to develop a comprehensive energy and carbon management strategy (ECMS). The company plans to reduce its overall carbon footprint by improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy sources and purchasing carbon offsets.
In fiscal year 2009, use of renewable energy accounted for 29 percent of the company's global energy consumption.
In addition to reducing GHG emissions by an additional 10 percent between fiscal year 2010 and 2015, the company also set a target to reduce energy consumption by an additional 10 percent during the same time period. This target builds on the company's 17.5 percent reduction in energy consumption achieved between fiscal 2004 and 2009.
Although increased production volume at the aerospace group resulted in the company not meeting its emissions reduction target, Bombardier Aerospace continues its efforts to reduce emission and has cut CO2 emissions at its Northern Ireland facilities by 69 percent since 2001.
Bombardier also reduced its water consumption by 35 percent or 1,232,710 cubic meters between fiscal 2004 and 2009, exceeding its target by 20 percent. The company consumed 3,529,207 cubic meters of water in fiscal 2004 compared to 2,296,497 cubic meters in fiscal 2009.
Helping the company reduce its water use, Bombardier’s Learjet facility in Kansas has reduced water usage by almost 50 percent over the past three years.
The company also reduced its waste generation by 11 percent from 31,659 metric tons in fiscal 2004 to 28,176 metric tons in fiscal 2009. Because the transportation group increased its number of non-European Union suppliers, which resulted in more wooden, non-returnable packaging, along with higher production volumes and construction activities, the company missed its five-year 15-percent reduction target, according to the report.
However, waste generation declined by 13 percent over five years in the aerospace group.
The company decreased its hazardous waste by 17 percent, from 13,496 metric tons in fiscal 2004 to 11,237 metric tons in fiscal 2009, generating 46 percent less hazardous waste in the transportation group.
