Toshiba TEC has announced that its Carbon Zero scheme is now an official partner to the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is now listed on its website. This achievement is the latest development in Toshiba’s objective of reducing its environmental impact, as well as helping its customers lower their own carbon footprints.
In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 universal goals consisting of 169 individual targets, that frame their agendas and political policies until 2030, with the aim of ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all. The Partnerships for SDGs online platform functions as a tool to inform all stakeholders on initiatives carried out by multi-stakeholder partnerships in support of SDGs and links progress of those initiatives to various follow up mechanisms. At present there are 2,179 partnership initiatives and commitments listed on the website, including Toshiba’s Carbon Zero scheme.
An industry first when it launched in 2009, The Carbon Zero Scheme offsets the carbon generated from parts procurement and manufacture of devices through to delivery to the customer, through a range of projects coordinated by co2balance, the leading global carbon management company. All carbon emissions have been offset through projects that help benefit the lives of individuals in developing countries.
Jeremy Spencer, Toshiba TEC’s Marketing Director said, “having The Carbon Zero Scheme approved by the UN as part of its efforts to fulfil the 17 SDGs is a significant achievement for us and one that we are incredibly proud of. Even in its infancy we were great believers in the Carbon Zero scheme and, over the course of almost eight years it has proved itself to be a brilliant example of what can be accomplished through having a sustainable approach to business and a more environmentally aware supply chain. The 2030 deadline might seem a long way off but there’s a lot to do and between now and then we will do everything possible to support and progress the targets set out in the SDGs are met.”
The UN believes that a company’s entire supply chain can make a significant impact in promoting environmental progress. However, it also states that supply chain practices are the biggest challenge to improving sustainability performance, and encourages companies to make it a priority from the top of an organisation.
