Dutch Biotechnology Company, Corbion has become the 101st business to join RE100, a leadership campaign led by the Climate Group in partnership with Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), uniting the world’s biggest and most influential companies that are committed to 100 per cent renewable energy.
A statement from RE100, described Corbion as the global market leader in lactic acid and lactic acid derivatives, as well as functional blends containing enzymes; emulsifiers; minerals; and vitamins.
It noted that already, Corbion is sourcing 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy, and has set an interim goal of reaching 50 per cent by 2020.
To begin its journey to this interim goal, Corbion, it explained has recently installed 462 solar panels across two separate buildings at its Gorinchem warehouse in the Netherlands. The installation will generate enough renewable electricity to power 25 homes and save 61kg in CO2 emissions annually.
“I congratulate Corbion on putting words into action, with the installation of solar PV,” said the Climate Group’s Head of RE100, Sam Kimmins, in the statement.
Kimmins added: “Solar PV investments can pay back in just a few years, which means that in addition to reducing the company’s carbon emissions, they can lead to long term financial savings. Renewables make business sense and are fast becoming the norm for forward-thinking companies.”
Similarly, Corbion’s Sustainability Director, Diana Visser, said: “We believe in a transition from a linear to a circular economy, where resources are continuously recycled and reused. Of course a circular economy needs to be powered by renewable energy and this is why we have started our journey and also why we have joined RE100.”
Visser further stated: “RE100 is a great initiative, it’s a platform to show different companies that are committed to renewable electricity, to show that there is demand for renewable electricity, and in this way we can accelerate the transition.”
Accordingly, Corbion’s announcement followed news that RE100 recently reached its 100 members milestone, with companies from a wide range of sectors and operations around the world creating around 146 terawatt-hours (TWh) in demand for renewable electricity annually.
The statement quoted Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group to have said: “Renewables are now a more affordable option for business. They also offer greater control over energy costs and hedge against rising prices of fossil fuels. All of this increases competitiveness while delivering on sustainability goals and cutting carbon emissions.”
“The more companies that make the switch, the faster we will move to a strong, low carbon economy supporting millions of jobs,” Clarkson added.
Committed RE aficionados
Launched at the Climate Week NYC 2014, reports indicate that RE100 is a collaborative, global initiative of influential businesses committed to 100 per cent renewable electricity, and working to massively increase demand for, and delivery of renewable energy.
As believed by the group, the private sector accounts for around half of the world’s electricity consumption, switching their demand to renewables will accelerate the transformation of the global energy market and aid transition to a low carbon economy.
Also, RE100 shares the compelling business case for renewables and showcases business action, while working with others to address barriers and develop transparent reporting mechanisms.
The group is supported by the Climate Group in partnership with CDP, as part of the We Mean Business coalition.
Companies joining RE100 are encouraged to set a public goal to procure 100 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources of energy by a specified year.
Since its launch, the campaign has continued to gather momentum and is now being rolled out in India and China in addition to Europe and the US. Companies have also joined from all over the world and from a wide range of industrial sectors – from telecommunications and IT to retail and food.
