Steelcase achieves carbon neutrality, announces carbon negative goal
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Office furniture giant Steelcase reports it has achieved carbon neutrality for its own operations - with goals to be carbon negative by 2030.
 
North America's largest contract furniture maker says it reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent over the past decade. Its goal of being carbon negative - which means removing more carbon than it being emitted - will require more investment in renewable energy and financing carbon offset initiatives.
 
"The company expects to reduce absolute emissions from its own operations by 50 percent by 2030 and cut indirect emissions from business travel and waste generated in operations," the company said in a release. "Since most of its emissions are considered indirect or scope 3 emissions, Steelcase plans to engage with suppliers to set their own science-based targets by 2025. By aggressively cutting greenhouse gas emissions at this rate, the company is aligned with the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement."
 
Its strategies over the next decade: 
 
  • Invest in energy efficiency opportunities identified through a series of audits performed at its top emitting facilities
  • Supplement energy efficiency projects via direct renewable energy supply in key markets where available
  • Explore onsite renewable energy and reduce emissions associated with business travel, its supply chain, logistics and waste generated in operations
The company plans to publish its progress in future Steelcase Impact Reports. Reported emissions are expected to be verified by a third-party starting this year.
 
Steelcase is the second largest wood manufacturing company in North America. It had annual sales of nearly $3.7 billion in 2019 and it runs 21 manufacturing plants around the world.
 
Overall sales for company’s fiscal 2019 increased more than 12 percent from the previous year to $3.443 billion. The company's divisions include Coalesse, Turnstone, Steelcase Health, Details and Vectra.

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About the author
Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].