Timberland to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 50% by 2010

Stratham, N.H. The Timberland Co. has issued a white paper in which it details its plans to combat global warming. The company set a short-term goal of being carbon neutral by 2010 for its stores and other facilities it operates, as well as for employee travel.

“Timberland is contributing to global warming through our production and operations; as a result, we are setting forth an aggressive strategy to reduce our own carbon emissions and to influence and engage those outside our direct corporate boundaries to do the same,” stated Jeffrey Swartz, president & CEO of Timberland.

The company’s comprehensive reduction plan includes verifying greenhouse-gas inventory through a third-party vendor, reducing energy demand through efficiency improvements, purchasing clean, renewable energy whenever possible, generating its own renewable energy on-site, and when necessary, purchasing renewable energy credits and offsets to offset emissions and develop local renewable-energy projects.

The company also is increasing the number of buildings designed to achieve LEED certification.

Since 2006, the company has reduced direct emissions by 27% by using less energy, sources more power from renewable sources from and engaging its workers. Lighting retrofits, building improvements and energy-efficient equipment have cut energy consumption by as much as 30% in some of its largest buildings. The company plans more of the same to get to its 2010 goal, which is based on a 2006 baseline. Timberland wants to have 39% of its energy coming from renewable energy by 2010. By 2015, the company wants 60% of its energy to be green power.