Uponor North America (Uponor) is helping Minnesota companies take a leading role in addressing the trends that will impact business in the coming years, including global warming, resource depletion and disruption of the supply chain. The company has planned an Executive Sustainability Summit along with partnering organizations including the Minnesota Zoo, Greater MSP, the Minnesota Sustainable Growth Coalition, the McKnight Foundation, Andersen Corp., and the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment. Collectively, each of these organizations shares a vision of a sustainable, profitable and equitable future for all.
The summit will bring together business leaders from across the region to make the case for sustainability and create the opportunity for partnerships that will make Minnesota a leader in addressing some of the world’s challenges.
“Sustainability is increasingly tied into businesses’ success,” says Bill Gray, president of Uponor North America. “Sustainability efforts make corporate operations more stable and feed the long-term bottom line.”
Uponor North America has led the sustainability charge, possessing a belief that businesses should be both profitable and responsible, finding innovative solutions to support people, profit and planet. For example, Uponor adheres to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in the areas of clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption, climate change and creating job opportunities for underrepresented persons. Additionally, Uponor undertakes sustainability projects including:
- Creating the Sustainability Champions Network
- Constructing expansions adhering to LEED certification
- Utilizing 100 percent green energy where possible
- Collaborating with academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry partners to advocate sustainability topics
- Establishing transparency in the supply chain
- Utilizing low-impact packaging
- Reducing emissions by 20 percent from 2015 levels
“We’re committed to addressing the key issues of our time, particularly water scarcity, through innovations that help reduce environmental impact and help the business community become better stewards of our natural resources,” says Gray.
The Executive Sustainability Summit will take place at the Minnesota Zoo in the Tropical Atrium and Target Education Center Auditorium. It will feature keynote speaker Andrew Winston, a writer, speaker and thought leader on the topic of sustainability and other social issues impacting businesses.
Many of Minnesota’s companies are slated to attend, including American Public Media; Ecolab; Health Partners; Medtronic;and Target. “Our hope is that this event is the start of many conversations to come,” says Gray.