Kodak Ups Environmental Targets

June 5, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Eastman Kodak Company announced a new set of three-year sustainability goals in the areas of social, product and operational responsibility, which supersede its “responsible growth goals” established in 2006. As part of the previous goals, Kodak has reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 2002, surpassing its 20% target and preventing 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Worldwide manufacturing sites will continue to set additional local goals.

Kodak says it will now reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at operations worldwide by another 10% by 2012 – for a cumulative 50% reduction against its 2002 baseline. The Rochester, N.Y.-based company also will measure its worldwide water footprint.

Kodak’s product responsibility efforts include the qualification of all eligible newly commercialized Kodak products under Energy Star guidelines, improvements of the environmental attributes of Kodak products throughout their life cycle, and the identification of high priority suppliers annually, which will be assessed against the performance expectations of the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition.

Under social responsibility, the company wants to achieve a 70 percent reduction in Kodak’s occupational injury rate by 2012 and raise awareness of the company’s sustainability commitment and its expectations of employees.

Kodak attributes its success to its digital transformation. However, roughly half of the overall progress is the result of applying the principles of lean manufacturing and process design, as well investments in energy-efficient equipment, says the company. As an example, Eastman Business Park in Rochester realized significant energy savings that allowed it to close a 67-megawatt power plant, earning it the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Champion Award in 2007. Kodak’s world headquarters building in Rochester was designated as Energy Star certified in 2008.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments