Solving the planet’s water challenges has never been more urgent. Xylem recently published its 2016 Sustainability Report, which outlines its progress in advancing solutions to global water and energy resource challenges.
The world’s growing population, overtaxed water infrastructure and increasing weather events all highlight the need for sustainable solutions. And solving water – one of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals – is foundational to economic growth, a more equitable distribution of resources and global health.
“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, the company details its progress against its five-year sustainability goals, which include reducing water use by 25 percent and greenhouse gas emission intensity and waste-to-landfill by 20 percent each. In late 2016, following the acquisition of Sensus, a leader in smart metering and network technologies, Xylem increased its vitality index goal from 25 percent to 30 percent by 2020. The company 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. The company’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. Xylem highlighted 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.