25 Tidbits About Sustainability That Might Surprise You

By Grainger Editorial Staff 11/17/22

Leaders across industries, from manufacturing to healthcare to food production and more, have sustainability on their minds.

Environmental goals, often part of a broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, drive business decisions more than ever as consumers expect businesses to take these issues into account. Once you dig into the data, it’s not hard to understand why. Some statistics can be a bit sobering, but others underline how much progress has already been made in critical areas such as:

energy management
indoor air quality
waste reduction
water conservation

Here are some facts and insights that may help explain why these matters are receiving more emphasis.

Sustainability facts slideshow title slide

Global suppliers expect environmental risks to cost them $1.26 trillion through 2025

Quote from government buyer about sustainability

80% of consumers are more likely to buy from a company standing up for environmental issues

Wind power generated 3 times the electricity of solar power in the U.S. in 2021

Quote from manufacturing operations director

Widespread use of LED lighting is expected to save more than $30 billion by 2027

Renewable energy use has increased to 20% from 12.5% in the U.S. over the last decadeer a

Reflective roofing can reduce temperatures by 50 degrees F.

Data centers are estimated to use 1-2% of all global electricity

90% of office spaces had air quality compliant with a health-based annual average, according to a pandemic-era study

No work from home spaces met that same standard in the study

Workers in high-performing green-certified buildings had much higher cognitive function test scores.

About 66% of wasted residential food went into landfills in 2018

Less than 10% of industrial food waste did the same

About 640,000 tons of single-use face masks were discarded monthly during the pandemic

In 2018, just over 330 million tons of concrete debris from construction was re-used

Another 71 million tons ended up in landfills

Between 1990 and 2018, municipal solid waste in the US increased by 40%

In the same period, the amount of waste recycled was 138%

Replacing a urinal with one meeting EPA Watersense standards could save 4,600 gallons annually

Self-supplied water withdrawals by U.S. industry decreased 69% between 1970 and 2015

Corporate Responsibility and Investing divider slide

71% of CEOs feel personally responsible for representing customers' values in ESG policies

Customer quote about sustainability reports and actions

18% of US investors say ESG is central to their approach

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.

Grainger

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