Combating Climate Change
We’ve Joined the Fight
See our carbon emissions reduction and renewable energy goals.
We are committed to reducing our carbon impact on the environment while continuing to manufacture our products, serve our customers and create value for all our stakeholders. We have invested in new software and systems to improve and streamline environmental data collection processes, capture global data, enhance future reporting, and better evaluate opportunities. This data is key to helping us understand our direct carbon emission impacts and to set environmental goals.
Our Goals
In 2021, we set goals to reduce our absolute Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 30% by the year 2030, and to offset 50% of our electricity usage with renewable sources by 2030. We adjusted our baseline year from 2020 global operations, to year-end 2022, to best reflect the Company’s operating footprint after the separation of the Cabinets business in December 2022.
Progress
As of 2024, three Fortune Brands sites are using renewable energy from on-premises solar power panels, and one additional site expects to use on premises solar panels starting in 2025.
Additionally, Fortune Brands Innovations has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). Through the VPPA, Fortune Brands will support the construction of a solar energy array in California, with energy generation to commence in early 2028. The VPPA will facilitate the development and construction of 60 MW of new solar energy capacity. Under the 15-year VPPA, FBIN expects to receive renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to approximately 68% of our total 2023 electricity usage. See our September 2024 post about the VPPA to learn more.
By supporting a renewable energy project, we will contribute to the addition of long-term green energy options to the supply of energy in the United States. We feel our goals and path to achieve them are both appropriate for our industry and realistic. As we work toward these targets, we will also remain open as new or more options to reduce carbon emissions become available in the future. Learn more in our latest ESG Report.
Carbon Mitigation Strategy
Our carbon mitigation strategy includes:
- Using renewable energy: We look for smart opportunities to use on-premises solar panels. In 2023, we used 1.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity generated from on-premises solar panels. We have also signed a VPPA.
- Reducing our own energy usage: The majority of our locations have switched to energy-efficient lighting, and we routinely check and repair our equipment to ensure it is running efficiently. We also invest in new equipment that is more energy efficient. While we have already taken many actions to run more energy-efficient operations, we are on the lookout for more opportunities to conserve energy.
- Producing products that help: Manufacturing energy-efficient Therma-Tru doors and using recycled inputs as the main components for our Fiberon PE composite decking is part of how we can help to mitigate carbon emissions. Additionally, our products that save water also have the ability to contribute to reducing emissions.
Leveraging the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
Starting in 2021, we have been using the TCFD framework to discuss Fortune Brands’ climate-related risks and opportunities. The framework includes guidance on governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. View our TCFD index in our ESG Report.