South Yorkshire manufacturer launches net zero campaign

AESSEAL reached the milestone after installing new energy saving systems, training staff and buying zero emission electricity, low emission vehicles and carbon credits.

The Rotherham firm, which makes mechanical seals used in industry, is now targeting global net zero emissions at all 230 of its locations worldwide by 2029.

And to spread the word it has launched a campaign and website - Betterworld.solutions - to show how to reach net zero without damaging profit.

Boss Chris Rea believes it is no longer a matter of choice for industry - but an urgent imperative.

He said: “AESSEAL has shown it is possible to make a valid contribution to the UN target to reduce global warming – but we cannot do this alone.

“There has to be a collective effort across all industries to embed sustainability in company ethos, strategies and practices, as well as in product design.

“Betterworld.solutions is our first step in supporting other industry executives who wish to join us to secure a more sustainable future for the planet.”

AESSEAL has also worked on two clean water projects that remove the need to boil it, preserving resources, preventing pollution and improving health: in the Lango region of Uganda to repair broken boreholes and in Cambodia where social enterprise Hydrologic has helped more than a million families access clean drinking water.

Global greenhouse gases must drop by half by 2030 to meet the United Nations target as part of the Paris agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C.

Mr Rea added: “Sustainability is central to our product design and we believe that any scope 3 emissions would be outweighed by the vast reductions in energy and water consumption our products provide to industry.

“In fact, if we looked at categories 11 and 12 of the GHG protocol we’re confident that it will show net negative carbon emissions overall.

“This makes us extremely confident of achieving net zero carbon emissions across our entire global network by 2029 which, fittingly, will be the 50th anniversary of AESSEAL.”

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