For ABB, sustainability is about balancing economic success, environmental stewardship and social progress to benefit all our stakeholders.
ABB's company slogan "Power and productivity for a better world" highlights the contributions and solutions we have to offer to some of the biggest challenges the world is currently facing.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency has become critically important to companies, governments and consumers due to soaring energy prices, rising demand in power-hungry developing nations and concern about the effect of man-made emissions on climate change.
It's one of ABB's key areas of focus -- in its own manufacturing processes and products provided to customers. Energy efficiency is embedded in the products, systems and services that ABB provides throughout the supply chain, from the extraction of energy to its use by consumers. Life Cycle Assessment studies of installations using ABB products show their main environmental benefit consists in reducing customers' energy use.
ABB's own activities are not energy-intensive, with annual greenhouse gas emissions from its global operations totalling 1.7 million tons. Nevertheless, the company is in the midst of a two-year programme to cut energy use by 5% per manufacturing unit.
ABB South Africa is committed to the ABB Group's goal and supports the goal of the National Energy Accord between the Department of Mineral and Energy and the National Business Institute, representing large industrial users of electricity in South Africa. As a signatory to the National Energy Accord, ABB is committed to the goal of increasing energy efficiency by 15% by the year 2012.
Climate change
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the world. Urgent, global action is needed to limit its consequences.
ABB focuses its climate change efforts on three main areas:
- Supporting efforts by customers -- particularly in utilities and industry -- to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
- Raising energy efficiency within the company and its manufacturing processes.
- Strengthening the use of clean energy sources such as wind power.
ABB's greatest contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases is through products, systems and solutions. They include: High-efficiency motors and variable-speed drives for motors; advanced industrial automation technology to control and optimise power grids and industrial processes; and certain types of substation and transformer which have minimal losses.
A group-wide internal energy of life and savings programme, designed to cut consumption by 5% over two years, is on track to meet its targets. ABB in South Africa, in addition to the group-wide goal also supports the National Energy Efficiency Accord which has as its target a 15% energy efficiency by the year 2012.
Environmental impacts
Economic growth, particularly in rapidly developing countries, increasing population and the depletion of natural resources are forcing governments, businesses and consumers to pay more attention to the environmental impact of their activities.
As a manufacturer and supplier, ABB is well aware of its responsibilities, and has been working for many years to manage its impacts, both within its own plants and offices, and those of its products.
ABB recognizes it can minimise environmental impact by using less material, increasing energy efficiency, using low-impact materials and processes, streamlining transportation, and by designing products that can be recycled. The aim is continuous improvement.
The company uses internationally recognised management systems, such as ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001, as well as intranet-based tools and guidelines, for environmental and health and safety issues at all manufacturing and service sites.
All ABB's manufacturing sites in South Africa use the internationally recognized management systems, ISO 14001 for the environment and OHSAS 18,001 for health and safety.