Month: April 2023

April 14, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Rayonier grows and manages an abundant and renewable resource that provides many benefits to society: trees. This uniquely positions Rayonier (NYSE: RYN) to offer natural climate change solutions. The trees we manage not only remove more carbon than we emit in our operations, but even after harvesting, help to store carbon through the wood-based products others create from our trees.

In order to quantify the impacts that our global operations have on the environment, we conduct an annual analysis of the carbon sequestration and emissions across our forestry operations and corporate activities. Rayonier calculates the carbon sequestered by our forests, the emissions associated with our operations, and the carbon removed/transferred from our forests through harvest activity. We developed this analysis based on methodologies published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. When estimating the carbon stored in our forests, we include overstory trees, understory vegetation, coarse woody debris, forest floor, and soil. This analysis demonstrates that our working forests provide a natural climate change solution.

In 2021, Rayonier’s forestlands sequestered an estimated 14.7 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents from the atmosphere versus corporate emissions of roughly 350,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents. Moreover, a significant portion of the carbon contained in the logs we sell to our customers each year remains stored for many decades through their conversion to a multitude of wood products.

For a complete analysis of Rayonier’s carbon footprint in the U.S. and New Zealand, we invite you to explore the latest Carbon Report: https://www.rayonier.com/media/15946444/rayonier-carbon-report-2021.pdf

To learn more about Rayonier’s responsible stewardship, visit our sustainability web page: https://www.rayonier.com/sustainability/responsible-stewardship/.

As our customers and members continue to look for ways to save money and live better, I am excited to announce our plans at Walmart and Sam’s Club in the U.S. to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more accessible, reliable, convenient and affordable for them across the country. By 2030, we intend to build our own EV fast-charging network at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations coast-to-coast. This would be in addition to the almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations we already have available at more than 280 U.S. facilities.

With a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, we are uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban or urban areas. Our goal is to meet the needs of customers and members where they live and open the road to those driving across the country. Easy access to on-the-go charging is a game-changer for drivers who have been hesitant to purchase an EV for concerns they won’t be able to find a charger in a clean, bright and safe location when needed.

What’s more, with our chargers located on site with our Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs, we can offer customers and members the convenience of being able to pick up essentials for their families or grab a bite to eat while they charge. And in line with our purpose, we aim to offer Every Day Low Price charging – helping ease transportation costs, still the second highest household cost for much of our country.

At the same time, as more drivers transition to EVs, our network growth will help expand domestic EV charging capacity across states. We see our commitment today as a natural extension of our work to help customers and members live better, easier and more sustainable lives – a big win for busy families and drivers everywhere, our country and the planet.

This plan marks the latest investment in our efforts to transform our business and product supply chains to be more regenerative, in this case helping reduce emissions and increase efficiencies for customers. For example, we announced tests across our supply chain vehicle and fuel classes toward our goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040. And as of last year, many of our W+ customers have already been receiving their deliveries via electric vehicles.

The way vehicle ownership looks is changing fast, and so is our business. Today, we are as known for convenience as we are for Every Day Low Price. We are committed to providing customers, members, associates, suppliers and our communities at large with the services they need and want, in a way that fits their lifestyle – making EV ownership easy and simple is no exception.

Originally published on HARMAN Sustainability Report

HARMAN’s Chakan plant in Pune, India overperformed in just about every area throughout 2021. Exceeding the standards yet again for commitment, quality, and teamwork, the HARMAN Pune factory sets an example for all, prioritizing initiatives that better our planet and improve the communities in which we live and work. Beating out over 350 applicants, HARMAN’s team received the Golden Peacock Environmental Management Award, a coveted and prestigious recognition across public, private, and government enterprises throughout India.

Safety

As ‘One HARMAN,’ we believe environmentally responsible operations are smart operations. Highlighting the team’s commitment to building a safety culture, HARMAN’s Chakan plant achieved a significant milestone by crossing “7 years” without a Lost Time Case (LTC). Holding enormous value for the plant, this achievement exemplifies the team’s commitment to ensuring everyone goes home safely every day through rigorous practices and initiatives.

Sanjeev Kulkarni, Sr., Director- Automotive, HARMAN said, “Our people-first approach led us towards considering safety as the first and foremost focus area at the plant. While the groundwork was laid by ticking all the best practices, the team showed commendable performance by adhering to every parameter agreed upon. We continue to strive towards achieving more such milestones in keeping the team safe and delivering our best.”

Efficiency

Showcasing climate action in motion, our first on-site solar installation came online in Pune, India. The installation is anticipated to produce around 163,200 kWh annually, more than 3% of the Pune site’s total annual energy consumption. This effort alone has the potential to save 119 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to the emissions produced after driving almost 1 million kilometers (over 621,000 miles). In addition to the environmental benefit or renewable energy, the Pune installation affords our site increased energy independence, bolstering resiliency in a climate-uncertain future.

Sustainability initiatives like those in Pune perfectly showcase our commitment to environmental stewardship wherever we do business. By 2025, HARMAN has pledged to source 100% renewable electricity across our global manufacturing footprint, in alignment with the RE100 Initiative, an organization of 400 ambitious and influential businesses driving corporate demand for 100% renewable electricity.

To learn more, download the HARMAN 2021 Sustainability report here