Environmental Sustainability
Leadership in environmental sustainability and climate change is a priority.
A Matter of National Security
Climate change is influencing natural disasters, population displacements, and conflicts over essential resources like food and water, which all contribute to destabilization. That’s why we’re dedicated to meeting the environmental challenges facing our world with solutions and technology that expand the boundaries of what it means to define possible as a global steward.
Goals to Measure Success:
Footprint Goals
Address the fundamental needs driving environmental sustainability by minimizing the footprint of our operations. Footprint goals include:
- We are prepared to do our part to support the goal to limit global temperature rise.
- Source 50 percent of total electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
- Reduce 10% of absolute water withdrawals, reuse 10% of water withdrawals, and replenish 10% of water withdrawals, focusing in water stressed regions--all by 2030
- Reduce solid waste sent to landfill and incineration by 10% by 2030.
Handprint Goals
Enhance sustainability within the aerospace & defense industry by supporting customer needs and supply chain objectives. Handprint goals include:
- In collaboration with key customers, work to develop a pioneering product stewardship program focused on material efficiency, product design and life cycle assessment.
- Update the company’s "Standards of Business Conduct for Suppliers and Other Trading Partners" to incorporate industry-leading sustainability practices by 2023.
Blueprint Goals
- Affirm our leadership in sustainability by collaborating to protect ecosystems and define environmental opportunities in our communities. Our blueprint goal is to:
- Expand Technology for Conservation (T4C) initiatives in proximity to Northrop Grumman's U.S. locations by 2030, in collaboration with external partners.
Net Zero by 2035
Over the past decade, we have taken meaningful action to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations. We are prepared to do our part to support goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and drive global GHG emissions to net zero by 2050. As the next step in our journey to decarbonize, we are committed to achieving net zero GHG emissions in our operations by 2035. As a part of this commitment, we will continue to emphasize efficiency and invest in low and zero carbon energy solutions.
- We currently have four sites that host onsite solar generation. Our most recent addition, at our Rolling Meadows, Illinois site, came online at the beginning of 2021.
- We have also made a commitment to source 100% of our electricity in Virginia from a solar farm that is currently being constructed within the Commonwealth.
Water Usage
As a critical resource for our operations and within our communities, we recognize that access to and availability of water can be a localized challenge. We mainly use our water withdrawals to support building evaporative cooling and humidification and manufacturing processes, as well as traditional domestic water uses.
- We complete regular water assessments at our sites, including our major manufacturing sites, to gain valuable insight into the use patterns of our operations.
- Our Redondo Beach, California, location successfully connected a municipal reclaimed water line to the cooling towers of three buildings onsite. This project offset potable water usage by 16 million gallons of water per year, which is enough to fill 24 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Electric Vehicle Charging
Our Electric Vehicle (EV) Workplace Charging Program has become an increasingly important service that we provide for employees, especially as we continue to see demand for electric vehicles rise.
- We opened our first ever fleet-only EV charging station in the company at one of our manufacturing sites located in West Virginia.
- Select sites partner with local utilities on charging stations. One example is our Azusa, California, which partnered with Southern California Edison on 39 charging stations.
Advanced Technologies and Climate
Northrop Grumman technology has always been at the forefront of tackling the toughest challenges facing our planet—including climate change. From satellites that collect data to track changes on the Earth’s surface to unmanned aircraft that produce fewer emissions than traditional manned options, we’re redefining how technology can advance global stewardship.
Technology for Conservation
Technology for Conservation (T4C) innovation projects are a unique way to build on our emphasis of environmental sustainability, evolve our partnerships with conservation organizations and provide new opportunities for employees. By combining the expertise of engineers with the conservation organizations’ knowledge of Earth’s ecosystems, these projects leverage the best of today’s technologies to enhance and scale conservation programs.
Renewable Energy
We currently have four sites that host onsite solar generation. Our most recent addition, at our Rolling Meadows, Illinois site, came online at the beginning of 2021.
We have also made a commitment to source 100% of our electricity in Virginia from a solar farm that is currently being constructed within the Commonwealth.
