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Bayer Invests Over a Billion in Climate Change

people-holding-planet.jpgBayer – the multinational chemical giant that also makes your aspirin – has announced it will spend $1.46 billion dollars in the next three years on a new climate program aimed at cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that contribute to global warming.

This is the first I’ve heard of Bayer taking a leadership role in reducing emissions, but apparently I’ve been asleep at the wheel. The German company has done quite a bit to cut emissions since 1990 and they say they’ve already reduced their CO2 output by 36 percent. Rather than using carbon offsets or credits, a big chunk of that reduction has come from energy efficiency.

Werner Wenning, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, said in a news release:

“We are well aware that we are an emitter of greenhouse gases. That was why in the past we focused our attention on lowering CO2 emissions.”

And they certainly have a lot of emissions to cut: A huge chemical company like Bayer has a lot of pollution to account for but also a lot of opportunity to seize. Some of the CO2-cutting plans for the next several years include:

  • Examining 100 production facilities around the globe (that account for 85 percent of all emissions) using a method called Bayer Climate Check that looks at efficiency and other ways to cut CO2.
  • Develop a concept called EcoCommercial Building to create zero-emission buildings. This will launch in 2008 with the construction of an office building in India.
  • By switching to cleaner, more efficient company cars, Bayer aims to cut vehicle emissions by 20 percent between now and 2012.
  • The Bayer CropScience division is using biotechnology to explore making plants more resistant to droughts and heat.

Can we rest easy knowing Bayer’s attacking global warming? Maybe not, but it is encouraging – and a good model for U.S. companies – to see how huge businesses are making real strides in efficiency and climate change solutions.

Bayer
GreenBiz.com

7 comments
  1. Bob Doobs

    I recommend they simply change their name to “Is Green Color” to show how green they really are. In German this would be Ist Grun Farben, which of course could be abbreviated to their previous name I.G. Farben.

  2. Tad Chef

    Bayer is one of the worst corporate offenders globally, GM frankenfood, patents on AIDS medication, dangerous pesticides. Name a crime against the environment and Bayer has at least committed it a dozen times. So I do not trust them whatsoever. It sounds to me like an green wash public relations campaign. Sorry.

    Some links:
    http://www.cbgnetwork.org/4.html
    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/bayer-rice-scandal071106
    http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?n=81205-fsa-gm-rice-bayer
    http://archive.greenpeace.org/pressreleases/toxics/2002jan21.html
    http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=102
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neonicotinoid
    http://keepantibioticsworking.com/pages/top_act.cfm
    http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=3129

  3. Dad

    I like the picture you chose to go with this story. The greens (enviromentalists) in conjunction with the reds (communists) holding planet earth hostage. Let my people go.

  4. Abby Clubb

    “From 2007 to 2012, the Group wants to cut the emissions caused by company vehicles by 20 percent. In addition, the greater use of new telecommunications technologies is aimed at reducing business air travel.”

    There’s no harm in reducing air travel. That helps the company save money and reduces emissions.

    There’s more info on using conferencing to reduce travel at: http://www.greenconferencing.com. And, if you take the quiz, InterCall will plant a tree.

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