Winnebago Industries is advancing its promise to environmental sustainability by joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C. The company has set a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and commits to setting a science-based target through the Science-Based Targets initiative.
The Business Ambition for 1.5°C is a campaign led by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in partnership with the UN Global Compact and the We Mean Business coalition. The commitment is meant to engage businesses, aligned with other shareholders, to set science-based targets to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, a goal made more relevant by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent report.
“Winnebago Industries cares deeply about the outdoor spaces we, and our customers, love to explore. Joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C is an important step forward,” said Michael Happe, Winnebago Industries president, and CEO. “As an outdoor lifestyle company, we are committed to doing our part to ensure that our employees enjoy livable communities and that outdoor destinations are sustained for the next generations of outdoor enthusiasts.”
In the upcoming months, Winnebago Industries will work with the Science Based Target initiative and external validators to develop and enact a plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Advancing environmental sustainability is a strong focus of the company’s corporate responsibility strategy, which evolved in 2018 to promote environmental, social, and governance priorities.
High-level sustainability goals include:
- Zero waste to landfill, with 90 percent diversion of waste by 2030
- Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
- Reduce fresh water use by 30 percent by 2050
- Advance product sustainability with eco-friendly upgrade options on all new products by 2025 and product lifecycle assessments by 2030
“Our environmental sustainability goals underscore our board and leadership team’s long-term view and commitment,” said Stacy Bogart, Winnebago’s senior vice president of general counsel and corporate responsibility. “Our team is engaged. We are ready to innovate and evolve to achieve these goals.”
Rick Puckett, who joined the company in 2017 leading environment, health, safety, and security, will lead environmental sustainability in his new role as vice president of Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability.