KSB GIW, Inc. operates the largest white iron foundry in the world, as well as smaller foundries in Grovetown and Thomson, Georgia, USA. Foundries are considered dirty due to the nature of the process and consume significant amounts of energy. Melting, pouring, and heat-treating millions of pounds of metal each month requires substantial quantities of metals, sand, gas, and electricity. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the KSB Group, we are committed to responsible and sustainable resource consumption.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Sustainability is the foundation of KSB's corporate strategy. It encompasses the responsible utilization of resources and the environment, as well as the responsibility towards employees and social commitment. KSB is committed to aligning its business activities with the ten universal principles established by the 2010 UN Global Compact. These principles apply to managers, employees, suppliers, and business partners throughout the company. KSB also supports the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. That is why our company established nine global sustainability goals in 2019, which we aim to achieve by 2025 at the latest:
- Reduce CO2 emissions at production sites.
- KSB pumps save 850,000 tons of CO2 per year.
- Women make up at least 20% of management staff.
- Asses the sustainability performance of 90% of our key suppliers.
- Rate the eco-balance of more than half of newly developed products.
- Involvement in 25 social projects per year.
- Increase personal development hours for employees to 30 hours.
- Achieve 80% employee satisfaction.
- Reduce the number of working days lost to accidents to 0.3 days per employee.
Reducing CO2 Emissions
One goal KSB GIW, Inc. aims to achieve, is the reduction of CO2 emissions at all our production plants by 30 percent compared to 2018 levels. One of the ways we are working towards this goal is by utilizing green energy. We employ two methods to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate climate impact. Firstly, we conduct lifecycle assessments on our pumps, evaluating CO2 emissions throughout the entire lifespan of the pumps. Secondly, we assess our manufacturing facilities and administrative buildings to identify opportunities for reducing CO2 emissions. This includes implementing more efficient equipment and processes, improving infrastructure, using LED lighting, motion sensors, and programmable thermostats for HVAC systems, as well as implementing recycling initiatives.
Utilizing Renewable Energy Sources
In 2018, KSB established a baseline of 31.7 metric tons of CO2 emissions for KSB GIW, Inc. Our objective is to reduce these emissions by over 30% by 2025. To achieve this, we collaborated with Georgia Tech University to conduct an energy audit at our Grovetown and Thomson facilities. Georgia Tech was chosen due to its prestigious reputation and involvement in developing ISO 50001, the Energy Management Systems standard. This standard drives all certified energy management systems worldwide.
Georgia Tech conducted the audit, prepared a report, and identified projects that would have the greatest impact. The primary focus of these projects was on excessive electricity usage. KSB GIW, Inc. plans to achieve the goals set by KSB by improving infrastructure and purchasing renewable energy credits. These credits enable KSB GIW to support solar and wind energy projects initiated by its electric provider, Georgia Power. Although we pay a premium price for these credits, it aligns with our goal and helps offset our emissions. 100% of KSB GIW, Inc.'s electricity consumption comes from renewable sources.
Leaving a Legacy
Responsible energy consumption is just one aspect of our commitment to leaving a legacy of clean air, water, and natural resources for future generations. We aim to be a truly responsible consumer of precious resources while producing world-class products. Our actions and consumption should be sustainable and should not pollute the earth. Investing in clean energy is one way we are fulfilling this commitment.
Discover how KSB puts environmental responsibility into practice: Corporate Responsibility (ksb.com)