"The Miracles of Science." That may be the slogan for the DuPont Corporation, but it is no miracle that DuPont is making such great strides reducing their environmental footprint; it is just commitment and a solid strategy. Mark Hause, Global Environmental Competency Leader at DuPont, discussed the company’s successes, how they came about, and the next steps, at the 2008 National Association of Environmental Managers (NAEM) EHS Management Forum in Memphis, Tennessee in October.

Where to start? According to Hause, DuPont defines its environmental footprint as "all injuries, illnesses, incidents, waste, emissions, and depletable forms of raw materials and energy." He went on to discuss the strategies that have helped DuPont successfully reduce the company’s environmental footprint:

• There must be top management involvement. Top management must actively lead the initiatives, not simply play a supporting role or provide a stamp of approval.
• Consistent measuring and reporting. The success of any initiative is dependent upon being able evaluate progress.
• Philosophies and initiatives must be integrated into the business at all levels from top to bottom and accountability must be reflected in performance reviews and compensation. EHS initiatives cannot be solely the responsibility of the EHS Manager.
• Select or prioritize projects based on a cost/benefit analysis. DuPont’s experience is that 80 percent of emissions reductions can be accomplished for 20 percent of the cost.
• "The Goal is Zero" mindset. In 1994 DuPont set a goal of zero injuries, illnesses, incidents, waste, emissions and use of depletable forms of raw material and energy. Zero may or may not be attainable, but DuPont believes that setting the goal establishes a corporate mindset that drives them closer to the goal than otherwise possible.
• Utilize external resources. Talk to other companies and organizations about projects being implemented, successes, failures, pitfalls, etc.
• Make strategies "SMART": specific; measurable/meaningful; attainable; realistic/reasonable; time-bound

Great strategies, but do they work? The results seem to indicate they do. In 1999 DuPont set 2010 goals of reducing GHG emissions by 65% and holding energy consumption flat from the 1990 base year. The GHG reduction goal was achieved by 2003 and the company is on target with the energy consumption goal. In addition, DuPont has reduced carcinogen emissions globally by 92% since 1990.

Remember, the goal is zero. Despite the successes to date, DuPont continues to forge ahead with efforts to further reduce its footprint. After achieving the initial GHG reduction goal, DuPont set new goal of 15% reductions from the 2004 base year by 2015. In addition to GHG emissions and energy use goals, the company is working towards:

• Reducing water consumption by at least 30% over the next 10 years at sites where the freshwater supply is either scarce or stressed, and holding water consumption flat through 2015 at other sites.
• Having 100% of fleet vehicles equipped with leading technologies for fuel efficiency and alternative fuels by 2015.
• Further reducing carcinogen air emissions by 50% from a 2004 base year by 2015.
• Ensuring that 100% of sites have ISO certified environmental management systems.

What’s next? While continuing to implement new projects to reduce its own corporate environmental footprint and revisit projects to reevaluate efficiency and cost-effectiveness, DuPont is already taking the next step, what Hause referred to as the mission of sustainable growth. Through sustainable growth DuPont is growing their business by bringing to the marketplace new or redesigned products that are more energy efficient, emit less, are safer or have some other measurable benefit that will help consumers reduce their environmental footprint.