Target Beats Water Reduction Goal

Target cut its water use 13.1 percent per square foot last year, beating its goal to reduce water use by 10 percent per square foot by 2015 compared to its 2009 baseline, according to the retailer’s latest corporate social responsibility report.

The company also made progress in its goal to reduce scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent per square foot by 2015 compared to 2007 levels. Last year Target saw a 7 percent reduction — an increase of 0.1 percent over 2013 but an overall 7 percent reduction compared to its 2007 baseline.

The company didn’t meet its waste reduction goal. Target had pledged to reduce the amount of operating waste sent to landfills by 15 percent by 2015, compared to a 2009 baseline. Its 2014 progress was a mere 2.7 percent reduction per square foot.

In other environmental highlights of the report:

• Target exceeded its goal to improve at least 50 owned-brand packaging designs to be more sustainable by 2016, enhancing 65 packaging designs last year.
• It earned Energy Star status for 58 percent of its US buildings in 2014, putting it on track to earn certification for at least 75 percent of buildings by the end of this year.
• Exceeded its goal to improve inbound transportation efficiencies by 15 percent, compared to 2008 levels, by 2015. Target achieved a 45.2 percent improvement.
• Outbound transportation efficiencies saw a similar achievement: 24.4 percent improvement last year also beating the 20 percent goal for 2015.