Seattle and the Pacific Northwest area are home to some of the world’s largest companies, many of whom have made sustainability and carbon-neutral promises. Amazon, with its Climate Pledge (signed by 380 others), Microsoft, Boeing, Weyerhaeuser, and Patagonia are just a few of the companies making headlines for their sustainable efforts.
Amazon Delivers the Carbon Neutral Goods
Amazon has made huge strides in their efforts to become a more sustainable company over the past few years. In their most recent sustainability report (2021), they continued their Climate Pledge from 2019, when they announced their commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across our business by 2040 and to powering their operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025.
The Amazon Challenge is an initiative that aims to make their operations more sustainable. They created the program in 2016, and challenged their employees to use less packaging, drive fewer miles, [NA1] and reduce energy usage on their campuses. In 2021, more than 100 million packages were delivered to customers globally using zero-emission vehicles. Since 2015, they’ve reduced per-shipment packaging weight by 38% and eliminated over 1.5 million tons of packaging.
Amazon’s Climate Pledge is also bringing companies together to accelerate action in the area, including the Climate Pledge Arena. In November 2020, the arena submitted its net-zero carbon registration to the International Living Future Institute. If certification is achieved, Climate Pledge Arena will be the first net-zero carbon certified arena in the world. Renewable electricity from on-site solar panels and off-site renewable energy powers 100% of the arena’s operations. And the stadium uses reclaimed rainwater stored in the ice rink system to create the greenest ice in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Microsoft’s Environmental Goals are in the Clouds
Microsoft joined the Climate Pledge in 2020 and has also made strides towards being more sustainable. They announced that they will be carbon negative by 2030, removing “from the environment all of the carbon the company has either emitted directly or produced through electrical use since it was founded in 1975.”
In 2020, Microsoft also launched an initiative to help suppliers and customers reduce their carbon footprints, and launched a $1B climate innovation fund to incentivize the creation of carbon reduction and removal technologies.
Microsoft has been reducing their plastic footprint, using more sustainable packaging materials and are partnering with companies like Patagonia to reduce the amount of post-consumer waste from the products they sell. By partnering with Bamboo for Better, their goal is to reduce the amount of deforestation in Indonesia, working with local farmers to create sustainable bamboo plantations instead of cutting down trees.
Microsoft’s The Forest Pride Project is designed to help preserve the rainforests of Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia. And to top off their many efforts, Microsoft also partnered with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to create a digital map of the areas that need protection from deforestation.
Boeing’s Sky-High Commitments Make an Impact
Boeing, one of the largest companies in the world, also aims to be one of the most environmentally friendly companies, focusing on sustainability. Boeing set an ambitious goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 2025, with a focus that includes operational targets for lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 25%, water consumption and solid waste to landfill by 20%, energy use by 10% and hazardous waste by 5%.
And they’ve committed to making its planes capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuels, made from sources like biomass and municipal waste. Their 2025 environment strategy is to be the best in aerospace and an enduring global industrial champion.
Weyerhaeuser Goes Out on a Limb for Conservation
Weyerhaeuser has been working to increase their sustainability efforts. Their strategy includes initiatives in place to help reduce their carbon footprint, including an employee-led Green Team and the use of recycled materials throughout all of their operations.
In 2020, they launched a “3 by 30 Sustainability Ambitions,” to make “meaningful progress” in helping to provide climate change solutions, more sustainable homes, and supporting rural communities—by 2030.
Patagonia is Down for CSR, Too
And to the south in Oregon, Patagonia is a shining example of a sustainable company with a focus on environmentalism. This outdoor clothing and gear retailer has been working to reduce their impact on the environment for over 30 years.
Their commitment to sustainable business practices extends throughout their supply chain, including a recycling program that collects and repurposes materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. They also work with suppliers who share their values for environmental responsibility and sustainability.
For example, they’ve partnered with other organizations, like Black Diamond, to help improve humanity’s impact on the planet through initiatives such as recycling programs and carbon offsetting projects.
Not to mention, Patagonia is also a Certified B Corporation, which means that they are dedicated to using business as a force for good, including the people who work for the company and those who make their clothing.
Sustainability in Northwest Event Show
The Pacific Northwest area is a great example of what can happen when a range of corporations take on the mission of sustainability for themselves. We at the Northwest Event Show are proud to be part of this community and look forward to making our own strides and innovations in this area, too. Check out our carbon-neutral pledge here.
