Deere sets goal to reduce greenhouse gas

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By Jennifer DeWitt | Thursday, June 19, 2008 |

Deere & Co. plans to go even greener by further reducing greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations as part of its participation in a national climate program.

Deere announced Tuesday that the company plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent per dollar of revenue from 2005 to 2014. The goal was developed in conjunction with Deere’s participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program, which the company joined in 2007.

“John Deere’s greenhouse gas reduction goal shows the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship,” said Laurie Zelnio, the company’s director of safety, environment and standards.

Deere is working to reduce greenhouse gases at all its facilities around the world from manufacturing plants to offices and warehouses. “Every program is focused around reducing energy use,” Zelnio said in an interview Wednesday.

Deere’s involvement in Climate Leaders — as well as its new reduction goal — is on a voluntary basis. “The EPA works with their partner companies to assure that we develop goals better than business as usual,” she said.

While Deere is basing its reduction goal on a normalized number — per dollar of revenue — others are doing it by tons of production. “We provide equipment that can be weighed, but we also produce light components and services that can’t be weighed. We also wanted to include our fleet, office space and warehouses.”

Climate Leaders, which is an alliance of industry, government and environmental entities, is working to develop long-term climate change strategies. By participating, Zelnio said Deere and the partners create a credible record of their accomplishments, reduce their impact on the environment and identify themselves as corporate climate leaders.

“If we move to regulation in this country, we would like it to be a market-driven and economy-wide approach,” she said.

Deere’s energy management program dates back to 1973 when the company began implementing energy-conservation initiatives and tracking energy use. Zelnio said the company first began inventorying greenhouse gas emissions in 2003 as part of a focus on climate issues.

Deere also is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, an alliance of major businesses and leading environmental groups calling for federal legislation requiring significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

Zelnio said examples of Deere’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions can be found in facilities across the globe. “There’s a natural reduction in greenhouse gases from modernization,” she added.

Deere’s direct greenhouse gas emissions come from operations such as foundry, heat-treat, painting, powerhouse and testing. Its indirect emissions result from its demand for energy, including electricity and steam.

Examples of greenhouse gas reductions include John Deere Harvester Works’ recent installation of fluorescent lighting fixtures, which contributed to 3,000 fewer tons of greenhouse gases being emitted each year by the East Moline factory. In Germany at John Deere Zweibruecken Works, the company will be installing two carbon-neutral biomass boilers this year. Used to heat and air-condition the facilities as well as provide heat for manufacturing, the new equipment will save 3,500 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

On the other end of the business, Zelnio said Deere is focused on producing machinery that is more environmental friendly — producing machines that burn cleaner and are more fuel efficient.

“Our commitment to these types of projects and to the goals of the Climate Leaders program demonstrate that we can be both a sustainable and growing company that remains competitive in world markets while also remaining committed to company core values,” she said.

Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com.

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