As organizations around the world team up to combat the effects of climate change, companies like Target have a big role to play. Since the retailer opened its first store in 1962, they’ve aimed to make their products and operations more sustainable for their guests. Target is a two-time ENERGY STAR partner of the year and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s 2016 top corporate solar installer in the United States. They've also come to the table in support of the Paris Agreement and other global and local environmental efforts.
Now, they are taking the next step forward, introducing a new climate policy and goals to continue making progress.
“Target has long been committed to making our business more sustainable, which leads to a stronger, cleaner supply chain and operations, and a healthier environment for our team members and guests,” says Brian Cornell, chairman and CEO, Target. “That’s why we’re setting goals to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint, and working with our industry partners, policymakers and other stakeholders to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Target's new goals were set with the Science-Based Targets initiative in mind. This organization provides guidelines that help U.S. companies align their corporate goals with climate science so the economy can progress together.
In addition to these goals, Target has committed to sourcing 100 percent renewable energy in their domestic operations, which they’ll work with partners to achieve in the coming years.
To make it all happen, the retailer will focus their efforts in five areas:
- Increasing adoption of renewable energy in our own operations, our supply chain, and on the electricity grid;
- Driving energy and water efficiency in our own operations and in our supply chain;
- Investing in innovations supporting the transition to a lower-carbon transportation system, including vehicle electrification;
- Considering climate impacts in raw materials sourcing, particularly the impacts of land use change, and designing plans to mitigate those impacts; and
- Supporting communities most heavily impacted by climate change and building their resilience to climate change impacts like extreme weather events.
That means they will continue building on several projects already in the works, like a collaboration with WWF (World Wildlife Fund)—where they advise the reailer in areas like climate change, water stewardship, food waste, packaging, and sourcing raw materials, with more to come as the relationship moves forward.
Target also will continue its work to promote water conservation, which has already saved more than 22 million gallons through optimization of outdoor irrigation systems at 176 of our stores.
