Xylem, a global water technology company, published its 2016 Sustainability Report, which outlines its progress in advancing solutions to global water and energy resource challenges.
“At Xylem, our sustainability strategy is tied directly to our business strategy, enabling sustainability to be effectively and seamlessly integrated into all we do,” said Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “While we strive to reduce our own environmental footprint, we also are investing more than ever in research and development with a keen focus on smart technologies and integrated solutions that can help our customers manage their own operations more sustainably. These efforts—one customer at a time—enable us to help build more resilient communities around the globe.”
In the report, Xylem details its progress against its five-year sustainability goals, which include reducing water use by 25% and greenhouse gas emission intensity and waste-to-landfill by 20% each. Xylem increased its vitality index goal from 25% to 30% by 2020, which reflects the addition of the Sensus business, which offers smart metering and network technologies. Xylem defines its vitality index as the percentage of sales from products launched in the past five years.
Xylem also is committed to driving external engagement on water challenges in order to advance research and dialogue around sustainable water management solutions. Through Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, Xylem colleagues around the world are making an impact in their own communities by volunteering in water-related activities. Xylem’s employees logged more than 21,000 volunteer hours in 2016.
Earlier this month, Xylem issued a statement outlining its continued commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, highlighting the need for practical solutions and innovative technologies to help global communities mitigate the impacts of climate change and adapt to its resulting effects, such as prolonged drought and increased flooding.
