Cummins Vows to Cut Water Use in Half
Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) says it has increased its goal to reduce water use at facilities throughout the world to 50 percent. The company says the decision to raise the goal came after it surpassed its original goal of 33 percent water use reduction more than three years ahead of schedule.
Cummins originally announced its plan in 2014 to reduce water use intensity as part of its 2020 Environmental Sustainability Plan. The company says it had reached a 42 percent reduction by the third quarter of 2016.
Cummins says it has used a variety of measures to reduce water use, including installing low-flow fixtures and efficient equipment, stopping water leaks and creating low water use landscaping at its global facilities. The company plans to expand these efforts to achieve its 50 percent goal by 2020.
"Thanks to the hard work of our employees around the world, we have surpassed our initial target, but we know we should do more and are raising the bar with a revised goal," said Brian Mormino, executive director of environmental strategy and compliance at Cummins. "Businesses can’t operate, and people can’t live, without water. We have a responsibility to come together in collective action, and Cummins is committed to being part of the solution."
The company says the new 50 percent goal will represent a total water savings of 763 million gallons since 2010, which is the amount needed for drinking, sanitation and hygiene for 395,000 people for one year.