15% Reduction in GHG Emissions

Reduction in GHG Emissions (Million Metric Tons CO2e)

 

Our commitment to reduce energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is informed by climate change science, the regulatory landscape and our experience in implementing targeted programs across our global manufacturing facilities. We have set an annual expectation of a three percent absolute reduction in our GHG emissions from operations since 2006. This goal is consistent with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other scientific body guidance on the annual GHG emissions reductions necessary to limit average global atmospheric temperature increases to a maximum of 2°C by 2100. Based on our experience and organizational footprint, efficiency improvements in United Technologies’ use of energy represent the greatest opportunity for us to reduce our GHG emissions. Over the last ten years, we have invested more than $200 million in 2,500 energy efficiency and GHG reduction projects and reduced our annual GHG emissions by 510,000 metric tons of CO2e (mtCO2e).

Case Study: Pratt & Whitney Springdale, Arkansas

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

25% Reduction in Water Use

Reduction in Water Use (Billion Gallons)

United Technologies faces increasing global water supply risks due to climate change, urban development and population growth. Reducing our water use decreases the potential for business disruption while helping to protect scarce resources. Shortages can be brought on by unplanned weather-related issues, excessive cost and competition for limited, community water supplies, or regulatory restrictions that restrict access in water-vulnerable jurisdictions. Our 2020 goal commits us to reduce our water use by 25 percent compared to 2015 baseline levels. We report on our water risk management and conservation program progress annually through the CDP.

 

Case Study: Collins Aerospace Santa Fe Springs, California

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

Implement Water Management Best Practices

For 2020, we also introduced a new goal targeting the implementation of water best management practices (BMPs) at our manufacturing facilities including a water balance and leak detection program. In addition, we established site-specific goals that align with a site’s size and its water scarcity category and that require the implementation of up to eight additional BMPs.

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

10% Reduction in Hazardous Waste

Reduction in Hazardous Waste (Million Pounds)

Hazardous waste represents less than 10 percent of our total waste volume and poses the greatest potential risk to the environment. The risks also extend to the required regulatory compliance and the overall cost of managing waste reduction. To ensure the appropriate focus, our 2020 goal requires each business unit, regardless of its growth, to reduce its generation of hazardous waste by 2 percent per year when compared to our 2015 baseline level.

Case Study: Carrier Malaysia

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

90% Recycling of Industrial Waste

Recycling of Industrial Waste

More than 90 percent of the waste we generate each year is non-hazardous and includes commodities such as metal, wood, paper and glass. Our 2020 goal aims for 90 percent recycling of industrial waste across our factories and operations. This goal is the latest iteration of our historic commitment to recycling, which was first quantified in a formal target in 2006.

Case Study: Collins Aerospace GOALZERO

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

100% Reduction in Chlorinated and Brominated Solvent Air Emissions

Reduction in Chlorinated and Brominated Solvent Air Emissions (Thousand Pounds)

Between 2006 and 2015 we reduced our use of more than 75 targeted chemicals, including volatile organic compounds, by 70 percent or more. In 2015, we set a 2020 goal to focus on a handful of the original chemicals that still remained in use, and that represented a significant risk to worker safety and air emissions stewardship. Our 2020 goal targets the elimination of air emissions from the use of eight specific chlorinated or brominated solvent chemicals if used above a level greater than 100 pounds per year.

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

50% Reduction in High and 50% Reduction in Medium Ergonomic Risks

High Ergonomic Risk & Medium Ergonomic Risk

Ergonomic hazards represent the biggest risk of injury for United Technologies’ employees. We know we can reduce future injury by eliminating these risks. Our goal is to reduce ergonomic risks assessed at high or medium by 50 percent by 2020, as measured by a formal ergonomic risk assessment.

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

100% Reduction in Workplace Exposure from Carcinogenic, Reproductive Toxic and
Endrocrine Disruptive Chemicals

Our 2020 hazardous substance goal builds on the significant progress we’ve made in reducing employee workplace hazards. Recent efforts include the elimination of employee exposure to chemicals and noise that would otherwise require the use of a respirator or hearing protection for eight hours per day under regular working conditions. In 2015, we expanded the program to include a reduction in potential employee exposures to chemicals that are carcinogens, reproductive toxins and endocrine disruptors (CREs) below regulatory requirements. Our goal is to reduce hazardous substance exposure levels to less than 50 percent of occupational exposure levels² or to a qualitative exposure assessment score of moderate or below.

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.

² Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) are defined as the lowest of the following: the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values, or manufacturer recommended or regulatory exposure limit for chemical, physical and biological agents. Note that the implementation of workplace control measures (engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment) is required in situations where exposures exceed the OEL; there are no current United Technologies CRE exposures above the OEL.

Level I mistake proofing is a corrective action process designed to eliminate the possibility of event recurrence. For example, changing light bulbs 30 feet above our factory floors may require an elevated lift or a ladder. Level I mistake proofing can eliminate the risk of falling by requiring employees to use specially adapted extension poles to change bulbs while standing on the factory floor. Our 2020 goal requires an increase in the application of this and other Level I mistake proofing safety controls to mitigate fatal, serious or lost day incidents.

Consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, UTC’s goals and targets are adjusted to reflect the impact of acquired companies at the time of acquisition and to remove divested companies from UTC’s measured performance. For example, goals and actual performance were recalibrated in 2013 to account for the Goodrich acquisition and in 2015 to reflect the sale of Sikorsky. UTC’s goals and targets are not adjusted for the opening of new facilities due to organic growth or for the closing of facilities without a divestiture. Actual levels reflect data reported quarterly by UTC sites under common reporting and quality standards. Reported data are reviewed and consolidated by UTC’s Corporate Office. UTC annually submits site energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data for independent review based on International Standards Organization 14064 Part 3 criteria for the validation of greenhouse gas assertions.