Continuous Improvement
Focusing on one common theme: Action
Focusing on one common theme: Action
message from our chief sustainability officer
"2022 marked a tipping point toward accelerating action. Throughout the year, we’ve seen three key transformations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. And GE’s own transformation is perfectly timed and aligned to ensure success."
ROGER MARTELLA
Chief Sustainability Officer, GE
Climate Change
Having met our 2020 emissions reduction targets ahead of schedule, we set a new goal to achieve carbon neutrality within our own operations (Scope 1 and 2 emissions) by 2030. In 2021, we articulated GE’s ambition to be a net zero company by 2050, including not just GE’s own operations, but also the Scope 3 emissions associated with the use of our sold products. We are collaborating closely with our customers, suppliers, policymakers and other companies to turn net zero engineering challenges into business opportunities.
GE VERNOVA
GE AEROSPACE
Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At GE, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) focus is rooted in the belief that diverse teams and perspectives are essential to building a world that works. By working together, we can foster an inclusive culture that ensures every employee feels accepted, respected, and belongs.
Product Safety and Quality
Lean is foundational to how we work at GE. Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost (SQDC)—in that order—help us deliver for our customers and build a world that works. These are not simply four metrics that we are regularly reporting on, but instead are our desired set of shared instincts. At no point will an improvement in quality, delivery or cost be done at the expense of safety. All of the GE businesses are committed to creating safe and effective products that meet the needs of our customers and are doing this through continuously working to improve product quality.
GE VERNOVA
Safety and quality are paramount in the design, manufacturing, testing, servicing, and monitoring of our energy products around the world.
GE AEROSPACE
GE Aerospace has a strong product safety focus, including a voluntary Safety Management System (SMS) aligned with the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) SMS framework.
Product Stewardship
In response to increasing scarcity of resources and the expectations from customers, investors, and regulators for producers to take heightened responsibility for the impacts of products across their full lifecycle, GE developed product stewardship and circularity goals in 2021. In 2022, GE businesses made progress towards achieving those goals while continuing to assess how to strengthen our efforts going forward.
Biodiversity
GE understands the health and preservation of biodiversity are fundamental to ensuring a sustainable future for communities, nature and business alike. In 2023, GE is piloting business level biodiversity assessments within selected business segments. This work will help our businesses identify opportunities to protect and enhance biodiversity. GE has also begun to assess the relevant voluntary frameworks and potential future legislation related to biodiversity.
Policy Engagement and Thought Leadership on Climate Action
GE’s focus on sustainability is to innovate technology to lift up the quality of life for people everywhere. While our focus is on technology and innovation, we know that strong policy, engagement, and partnership are critical to success of these shared goals.
Environmental Justice
Beginning in 2019, GE enhanced its Brownfields Program to prioritize cleanup and redevelopment of idle contaminated properties in Environmental Justice (EJ) communities. GE committed more than $40 million to demolish its obsolete structures in EJ neighborhoods and undertaken environmental investigation and cleanup at more than 45 of our highest priority EJ properties. We are working hand-in-hand with local governments, private groups, property experts and technical resources to define reuse plans that buttress community goals and catalyze sustainable economic development.
