Environment
Taking ownership of environmental impacts
In 2005, ITT entered into voluntary negotiations with the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assess whether there was any significant environmental impact on local natural resources at five locations resulting from the company's current and former operations. In a progressive arrangement with the state, ITT funded and managed a much-needed local environmental restoration project in lieu of a monetary payment.
In 2008, ITT completed the project, a series of upgrades to Memorial Park in Clifton, New Jersey, which is also home to an ITT manufacturing plant. Improvements included the planting of 60 new trees throughout the park and flowers along the bank of the pond. We also purchased and installed storm water controls, new fountains for the park's pond, and new trash bins. The work, done in consultation with city leaders from Clifton, improves the park's ecosystem and benefits the local community.
Detecting evidence of climate change
ITT environmental sounders can deliver real-time moisture and CO2 data for climate change tracking, enabling faster response with greater impact to conditions that are degrading the environment. Launched aboard the NOAA-N Prime weather satellite in February 2009, ITT's latest High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/4) measures ocean temperatures, total atmospheric ozone levels, cloud height and coverage, and surface radiance. The satellite also carries an ITT Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR/3), which serves as the operational imager for global weather data.
Introduction
ITT is acting to preserve and enhance our environment. While we pride ourselves on using fewer resources and emitting less waste than comparable industrial firms, ITT is a global manufacturing company that has an impact on the environment. We are striving to shrink our eco-footprint by further reducing the use of natural resources and hazardous materials in production, lowering emissions and cutting energy use in operations, and by improving product design.
Caring for the environment and our communities is a core value
ITT takes responsibility for remediating environmental damage at all our sites. We are aggressive in the cleanup of legacy sites that were owned by ITT at one point in our long history and quickly tackle any issues that arise at newly acquired companies. We meet or exceed regulations and pay our fair share. When accidents happen, we take quick and comprehensive action.
Reducing manufacturing impacts is a major goal
We are actively creating environmentally conscious operations by increasing use of recycled materials, reducing the use of natural resources and hazardous materials, and cutting the generation of wastes in production.
Minimizing our emissions of greenhouse gases is a growing focus
ITT is seeking to reduce consumption of electricity, natural gas and other fuels, and investigating ways to substitute renewable energy. Our products are engineered to be more efficient, helping our customers to reduce their energy use.
Challenges
Challenges: Measuring and managing our total environmental impacts as a dynamic company involved in numerous acquisitions and divestitures; maintaining ITT's environmental standards in emerging markets with less-progressive regulation.
Status
Commitments
- To use our unique position as a fluid technology leader to address global water and energy through product innovation, industry participation, and effective philanthropic and educational activities.
- To recognize our impact on the global environment and be vigilant in our efforts to reduce consumption of natural resources and generation of waste and emissions, and be responsible stewards of the land on which we operate.
- To evolve our environmental practices continuously and share our best practices through active participation in the community of environmentally responsible corporations.
Principal Strategies
- Deliver a portfolio of technologies that handle critical water needs and provide end-to-end solutions in the water cycle. Become a go-to company for expertise and solutions for pressing water issues.
- Achieve a 5% annual decrease in ITT's consumption of electricity, natural gas and water, and in our generation of non-hazardous waste, hazardous waste and greenhouse gases.
- Quickly implement ITT's high standards of environmental responsibility and management processes at new sites acquired by the company.
- Utilize the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Global Water Tool to better understand our current water footprint and to avoid future impacts in water-stressed areas of the globe.
Recent Progress
- Despite acquisitions that significantly increased our resource-intensive manufacturing activities, improvements in legacy operations enabled overall progress in environmental performance. During 2008, ITT achieved a decrease in our generation of non-hazardous waste and greenhouse gases. In particular, our overall energy intensity (energy consumption as compared to product sales revenue) declined by more than 5%.
- Utilized our expertise to co-lead the World Business Council for Sustainable Development team that created the Global Water Tool, which is available free to the global business community.
- Renovated new global headquarters space and a number of other key sites with best-practice green building methods.
- Expanded portfolio of energy-saving solutions for municipal, residential and commercial customers through strategic alliances and acquisitions.
- Tested a prototype water purification product that meets water needs and price points in emerging markets.
- Continued to fund the Stockholm Junior Water Prize globally, and encourage young people to study water science.
2009-2010 Priorities
- Achieve a 5% decrease in 2009 in our consumption of electricity, natural gas and water, as well as our generation of non-hazardous waste, hazardous waste and greenhouse gases in 2009.
- Purchase renewable energy wherever it is locally available and competitively priced; conduct a study to search for additional renewable energy opportunities for 2010.
- Through ITT Watermark, provide safe water, sanitation and hygiene education to an additional 100 schools in Latin America and Asia during 2009, in support of our goal of 300 schools by the end of 2010.
- Continue development of products to support emergency response, and build reserve of currently available systems; as needed, provide safe water and sanitation to people affected by natural catastrophes.
- Evaluate all major manufacturing operations to identify further opportunities for energy savings.
- Appoint a corporate sustainability lead to coordinate global efforts, identify opportunities and share best practices.
