Six Print Companies Sign Climate Pledge to Support Paris Negotiations

As world leaders are gathered in Paris to negotiate climate-change measures at the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21), US companies are pledging to support sustainability measures. The White House has announced 73 new companies across the American economy who are joining the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. And six businesses in the printing industry are among the growing numbers: Avery Dennison, Adobe, HP, National Label Company, Ricoh, and Xerox.

The pledge states: “We applaud the growing number of countries that have already set ambitious targets for climate action. In this context, we support the conclusion of a climate change agreement in Paris that takes a strong step forward toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.

“We recognize that delaying action on climate change will be costly in economic and human terms, while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, public health, resilience to natural disasters, and the health of the global environment.”

A total of 154 companies and counting have now signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, with each business committing to specific measures to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainable business and manufacturing practices. These 154 companies have operations in all 50 states, employ nearly 11 million people, represent more than $4.2 trillion in annual revenue, and have a combined market capitalization of over $7 trillion, according to a release from the White House.

The announcement builds on the launch of the American Business Act on Climate Pledge in July, and the second round of announcements in October.

According to the release, signing the pledge means creating company-specific goals such as:

• Reducing emissions by as much as 50 percent;
• Reducing water usage by as much as 80 percent;
• Achieving zero waste-to-landfill;
• Purchasing 100-percent renewable energy;
• Pursuing zero net deforestation in supply chains;
• And setting an example for their peers.

For example, Avery Dennison signed the pledge and also supports an agreement that will cut emissions enough to keep the average global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius.

“Climate change is an imminent global threat that demands urgent action from all segments of society –including business – while we still have time to act,” says Dean Scarborough, Avery Dennison’s chairman and CEO, in a release. “It poses risks to people, communities, ecosystems, and, obviously, our business. Responding to climate change by reducing emissions is, above all, a moral imperative. It’s consistent with our company’s ethics and guiding principles. And if we want to stay in business for the long term, then addressing the risks posed by climate change is simply sound strategy.”

Scarborough will speak in Paris next week as part of the Sustainable Innovation Forum.