Planet
Planet
We know that our business and manufacturing practices have both positive and negative effects on our planet. As stewards of the environment, we feel that we have a responsibility to mitigate and minimize negative repercussions whenever possible. To support our journey toward sustainability, we continually analyze and monitor our impacts so we can make decisions that decrease our environmental footprint.
Water Consumption
Water is a precious natural resource — not just for our business, but for the entire world. Hunter is committed to water-use efficiency. Since 2014, we have reduced our total water consumption by more than 20%, with a nearly 32% reduction in potable water use during the same time frame. Even as our operational and manufacturing capacities continue to expand, last year saw our lowest consumption of water since we began reporting in 2012.
Paper Consumption
We know that the cost of doing business includes paper consumption. However, as we strive to conduct business more efficiently, we know we must do our part to consume less paper. Since 2011, we’ve reduced our paper use by more than 56%, and continue to seek ways to lower consumption even more. To ensure the paper that we use is sourced in an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, and economically viable manner, we aim to use Forest Stewardship Council® certified products when we can.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As we grow, our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase, along with the cost of raw materials needed to build products. These rising costs have lowered our GHG-to-dollar-build ratio to 0.22 pounds of CO2 for every dollar we spend. Although this decreasing trend is a positive footnote, we know that we must identify more ways to invest in renewable energies to decrease our overall GHG footprint.
Solar Power Production
On-site power production through the use of solar panels directly correlates to our reduction in GHG emissions. Our solar infrastructure investments, dating back to 2012, have generated more than 2,797,000 kWh of energy to date. In 2017, we produced 709,000 kWh, which happens to be the same amount produced in 2016. Thus, our existing infrastructure seems to have reached its maximum production levels. To help us lower our GHG emissions, expanding our solar infrastructure may be a possibility.
Recycled Content
In 2012, we set an ambitious goal to include at least 7% recycled plastic resin in our products by 2017. We’re elated to announce that we have met this goal! Thanks to fully operational regrind machines at our production facilities, along with our decision to choose vendors who supply more recycled materials, we have increased the recycled material content in our products by nearly 312% since 2016. This is a tremendous accomplishment for our organization, and we look forward to expanding our efforts in the coming years.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
At our corporate headquarters in San Marcos, California, we support employees who drive electric vehicles by offering seven free charging stations around campus that are powered by renewable solar energy. In 2017, employees used nearly 40,000 kWh of power to charge electric vehicles, which equates to 36,425 pounds of GHG savings.
