RE100 Adds 7 New Members, Including First Latin American & Turkish Companies
Global 100% renewable electricity initiative RE100 announced this week at Climate Week NYC the addition of seven new members, bringing the total number of companies up to 152, and introducing the first companies from Latin America and Turkey.
With Climate Week NYC underway in New York City (September 24 to 30) it’s only ever a matter of time before the big announcements begin rolling out for initiatives and organizations attending. RE100 — the global initiative for businesses committed to 100% electricity formed by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) — is no exception, and after pre-empting things with an announcement by clothing giant PVH Corp., RE100 announced on Tuesday that seven new companies had joined the initiative.
The additions were paired with the announcement that RE100 members are more profitable than their peers, according to a new RE100 report published with Capgemini Invent.
RE100’s seven new members not only pushes their total number up to 152 but now also includes the first companies from Latin America and Turkey. Specifically, the world’s largest bakery company, Grupo Bimbo, from Latin America, and leading Turkish menswear retailer and manufacturer Gürmen Group, are both targeting 100% renewable electricity in relatively short timeframes — by 2025 for the former and by the end of this year for the latter.
Headquartered in Mexico and with operations in 32 countries, Grupo Bimbo has set a target of 100% renewable electricity across its entire operations by 2025, with an interim goal of 80% by 2020, and will look to build its own solar PV projects, as well as sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), renewable electricity attribute certificates, and greren tariffs.
“Our commitment to convert our operation to 100% renewable energy is a major step towards our purpose of building a sustainable, highly productive, and deeply humane company,” explained Daniel Servitje, President and CEO, Grupo Bimbo. “Having operations in 32 countries, this is a challenge we assume with the clear conviction and responsibility of contributing to a better planet for present and future generations.”
Gürmen Group, on the other hand, based in Turkey as a menswear retailer and manufacturer (but with its fingers in mining, energy, agriculture, construction, and real estate) exports to 60 countries worldwide and is expecting to achieve its 100% renewable electricity target by the end of 2018. Already boasting access to the largest geothermal power generation area in Turkey, the company has built a 10 megawatt (MW) plant and will eventually look to take advantage of the full 150 MW capacity.
“Gürmen Group aims to become one of the industry leaders on environmental issues and the commitment of using 100% renewable electricity is the proof of this purpose,” said Remzi Gür, Chairman, Gürmen Group. “We are pleased to join the RE100 initiative and be the pioneer for our country. We hope these first steps will influence new firms in Turkey.”
In addition, RE100 announced the admittance of French sporting goods retailer Decathlon, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India, Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd. in Japan, US ride-share company Lyft, and Taiwanese skincare products company TRIDL.
“Our pledge is to make Lyft a carbon neutral and 100% renewable company,” said Sam Arons, Director of Sustainability, Lyft. “This means offsetting the carbon emissions from all Lyft rides, and purchasing enough renewable energy to cover the electricity consumption of every Lyft office space, driver hub, and electric vehicle mile on our platform. Lyft’s investment and impact will continue to grow as the company does. We’re excited to join RE100 to become a part of this important group of organizations stepping up to fight climate change.”
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