The automation and technology group Emerson has published its 2024 Sustainability Report. In it, the company outlines the measures it has taken and the progress it has made in the areas of climate protection, circular economy, resource management, and corporate governance.
Emerson's goal is to firmly integrate sustainability into its business processes and technological developments. To this end, the company is working with partners across industries to promote the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
Significant progress in emissions
Emerson aims to reduce its direct and energy-related emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 90 percent by 2030. The entire value chain is to be climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. According to the company, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in 2024 were already 48 percent below 2021 levels. Contributing factors included a 30 percent reduction in energy intensity and a 57 percent share of renewable energies in electricity consumption.
Indirect emissions along the supply and usage chain (Scope 3) have also fallen by 13 percent since 2021. The company values investments at an internal CO₂ price of $90 per ton.
“We are working to reduce the environmental impact of our own business activities while helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals,” emphasized CEO Lal Karsanbhai.
Circular economy, technology, and resource conservation
With its “Greening By Emerson” strategy, the group develops solutions for energy infrastructure, industrial plants, and transportation. This includes projects in New Zealand and the Netherlands, as well as collaborations in Canada, South Korea, and the US—covering areas such as renewable energies, hydrogen, and CO₂ capture.
In the area of circular economy, Emerson is pursuing the goal of eliminating waste to landfill by 2032. In 2024, 58 percent of all waste was already recycled or recovered. Examples include new packaging solutions in China and the US, and the development of metal powders with a reduced carbon footprint in collaboration with the University of North Texas.
Water and biodiversity management are also a focus: water consumption in 2024 was 1,321 megalitres. In addition, Emerson analysed the proximity of its sites to ecologically sensitive areas worldwide for the first time. The result: two percent of the facilities are located within five kilometres of protected areas.
To better meet future reporting requirements, the company has introduced a new governance framework for sustainability reporting. Chief Sustainability Officer Michael H. Train explained that Emerson wants to record its progress even more systematically and make it transparent in the future.
