ThyssenKrupp Elevator Rises to Carbon Reporting Challenge

Published by Paulette Fréchette on July 01, 2009

The USA's Largest Elevator Manufacturer Responds Quickly to Customer Request

Toward the end of the first quarter of 2009, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas Business Unit was presented with a request from a key customer: measure the company's carbon footprint and report the findings to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Such an exercise had not yet been performed at ThyssenKrupp Elevator, making it a daunting undertaking. But the benefits facing the company far outweighed the effort required to complete the request. The company stood to grow its business and customer relationships, and it was also an opportunity for ThyssenKrupp Elevator to establish a reliable and transparent method of monitoring its commitment to reducing its overall greenhouse gas emissions impact.

Swift Action, Clear Communication

A mid-May deadline made for a short timeline. "We had just initiated the process for collecting data and information for our inaugural sustainability report. When we received the request to submit to CDP, we decided to jump in with both feet," said Sasha Bailey, Corporate Sustainability Manager at ThyssenKrupp Elevator. The company enlisted Five Winds International to assist in conducting data collection, analysis and reporting. Data collection started immediately with a streamlined kickoff process, and the team thoroughly assessed available data and existing gaps that would need to be addressed. ThyssenKrupp Elevator employees were carefully selected and quickly engaged to gather data. This strategy turned out to be paramount to the project's success. Active employee involvement has been central to the development of ThyssenKrupp Elevator's sustainability programs, as key employees were already aware of the value the company could secure as a result of responding to its customers daunting request. "These factors made it possible to quickly gather the necessary data," said Curtis Harnanan, a Five Winds consultant assigned to the project.

Get Started, Keep Moving Forward

The Carbon Disclosure Project maintains the largest global database of corporate climate change information in the world. Although reporting is voluntary, stakeholders are rapidly using it to measure and evaluate companies' performance. "There are companies that will always show initiative in this area and they influence organizations that need more participation to see value," says Harnanan of Five Winds. Business investors, customers and other decision-makers are beginning to expect a higher level of participation and transparency from companies. "Once a company submits its first report, it acts like a stick in the ground, a point from which to measure its progress," continued Harnanan. "The key to this type of reporting is to be honest and transparent about what is currently being done and what is planned for the future." ThyssenKrupp Elevator has taken this step, setting the stage to measure progress toward its sustainability objectives. What could have been a simple ‘check the box' exercise will be strategically used to its fullest advantage.

Use What You Have On Hand

Companies that measure greenhouse gas emissions are aligned to receive direct business benefits. Being able to identify points in a manufacturing, product, or business process where improvements can be made, gives organizations a way to adjust energy consumption and costs. ThyssenKrupp Elevator also expects to achieve synergies with other concurrent projects - namely, a central data collection system, a sustainability report, and streamlined triennial energy cost audits. As another example, ThyssenKrupp Elevator staff unearthed a forgotten energy audit report now ripe for execution because of the increased awareness and interest in improving environmental performance. In challenging economic times, energy management is a strong business driver and, oftentimes, straightforward improvements are possible by reawakening dormant institutional knowledge.

For ThyssenKrupp Elevator, disclosing its greenhouse gas emissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project has had positive outcomes. By completing the project on time and within budget, the company maintained and built customer relationships and satisfied a significant customer's request. The process also became a vehicle for ThyssenKrupp Elevator to publicly convey its intent to measurably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CDP reporting will continue to give the organization ample ways to focus on successes and address ways to lessen its carbon footprint. It is a starting point from which ThyssenKrupp Elevator can measure reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions. What's more, the company has enhanced its positioning in the industry.

ThyssenKrupp Elevator has proven itself as a company that values its customers, business relationships and corporate social responsibilities. Through participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project, ThyssenKrupp Elevator satisfied its customer's requirement, increased its credibility, and actively engaged its employees through a communications strategy that has further entrenched the company's commitment to environmental sustainability. Overall, it was a challenge worth rising to.

For more information on carbon services, please contact Curtis Harnanan at +1 (613) 722-6629 ext. 242.

Found in: footprint carbon building and construction