Environmental Stewardship
We collaborate closely with other industry groups on science-based best practices for the design and manufacturing of sustainable cabling and connectivity infrastructure products.
Our Members’ Commitment to the Environment
From plastic materials, to the manufacturing processes, to the packaging used in connectivity products – CCCA members care about the environment and take their responsibility to preserve global resources very seriously. The environmental stewardship of member companies extends from the products they manufacture to the processes and operations at plants and facilities.
CCCA’s leadership is also expressed by being a proud founding member of the Vinyl Sustainability Council (VSC). The VSC Sustainability Journey details the vinyl industry’s sustainability accomplishments and what they’re planning to do in the future.
3M has a long-standing commitment to sustainability and it is a core value of our company. Our consistent industry leadership is evident in the establishment of our ground-breaking Pollution Prevention Pays program in 1975, which continues to thrive, as well as more recent initiatives, including our shift to renewable energy sources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing circular solutions and growing our skills-based volunteering programs. Together with our employees, customers, partners, governments and communities, 3M is committed to a science-based, collaborative approach to solving shared global challenges and improving lives.
Science operates within a set of rules. It follows specific methods. It delivers proof and proves cause and effect. But science also breaks boundaries, challenges the status quo, and improves lives.
As a company rooted in scientific exploration, and the belief that every problem has a solution, we are applying our technological expertise to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges on raw materials, water, energy and climate, health and safety, and education and development. The challenges we must tackle for a sustainable future don’t always follow clear rules or methods — but we see them clearly. They are broad. They are interrelated. They are solvable. We know science can help tackle them.
We are looking at ways to build purpose into leadership and talent development across the company, to recognize business opportunities that help the company grow while addressing societal issues. We cut across industries and siloes to collaborate with suppliers, customers, and communities by working together toward building a more resilient world. We have a unique opportunity to apply our passion and collaboration to help the world prosper.
Alphagary is committed to sustainable development and has identified principal impacts, risks, and opportunities in order to improve its performance and make sustainability a successful strategy. Our employees are committed to respecting ethical values, to the self-development of communities in which we have a presence, and to environmental protection.
Through its entire existence, Alphagary has been totally committed to a strong Safety, Health and Environmental (SH&E) impact management philosophy. While we produce a wide range of specialty plastic compounds to benefit our Customers, Employees, our Community and the End Users of products using our materials, we have continuously invested in Product Development, Manufacturing and Management systems to meet the highest level of Sustainability Principles.
Alphagary has been proactive in ALL aspects of our business to provide the best practices to manage materials, energy and water so as to reduce waste and emissions from our facilities. We continue to “Act Now” for a Clean, Safe and Responsible future. We will continue to have strong / committed relationships with our Customers and Suppliers to create a Sustainable and valued business, on behalf of all of our employees and our Communities.
Through its global sustainability program, Anixter seeks to continuously improve business processes to control and reduce the impact associated with its targeted environmental aspects of energy, waste, materials and natural resources and transportation.
By targeting measurable results within each environmental aspect combined with using A Sustainable PathSM approach, which focuses on the economic, environmental and social impacts of the organization, Anixter balances environmental responsibility and return on investment.
With more than 100 years in operation, Belden has a recognized reputation for doing business in a responsible and ethical manner. As we continue to pursue sustainability throughout our business operations, we are focused on environmental integrity, social equity, and financial profitability. This framework provides the foundation of our commitment to:
- Protect and preserve the environment surrounding Belden’s offices, facilities, and the areas where our products are found.
- Assess and adopt business practices which promote sustainability, including reducing waste through recycling and manufacturing process control, while increasing water and energy efficiency.
- Innovate and continue to offer environmentally-friendly and LEED certified products to customers looking for sustainable alternatives to traditional products.
- Ensure a respectful, diverse, and safe workplace for employees.
- Uphold the human rights of all individuals associated with Belden’s operations – from employees, to third-party partners, to those living in the communities where we do business.
- Share complete, accurate, and timely information about our business to stakeholders.
To guide us in fulfilling this promise, our associates worldwide hold themselves accountable to the Belden Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
Think Globally, Act Locally has long been a slogan of the environmental movement. One that emphasizes the ways in which small and specific individual actions can have an impact upon the overall environmental landscape. It is with this concept in mind that Berk-Tek continuously assesses our internal business and manufacturing processes. And it is through this ongoing re-evaluation that we have developed processes to mitigate our impact on the world around us. Specifically, we have developed and refined processes that address:
• Cardboard and paper recycling
• Copper and plastic waste reduction
• Copper and plastic reclamation
• Energy efficiency improvements
• Elimination of mercury release
• Minimization of harmful chemical use
• Waste water reclamation
• Packaging improvements
Berk-Tek recycling efforts also include “Waste To Energy” disposal of most waste products except those destined for specific recycle or reclamation processes.
Our commitment to continuous improvement has driven us to do even more today. From innovative materials development, through positive manufacturing practices and on to standards bodies contributions, Berk-Tek truly does work to be a good steward of the planet.
CommScope pushes the boundaries of communications technology to create the world’s most advanced networks – an advanced approach to a tailored sustainability plan is in fact core to this strategy.
Across the globe, CommScope’s people and solutions are redefining network connectivity, solving today’s challenges and driving the innovation that will meet the needs of what’s next – increasingly that has meant focusing on the environmental and social dimensions of CommScope’s business. Consumer preferences are changing, environmental regulation is ratcheting up, and workforce engagement is increasingly critical to keeping a competitive edge.
CommScope is reducing the environmental impacts of its operations. Here are the key environmental accomplishments:
CommScope achieved a Gold level rating for Corporate Social Responsibility from EcoVadis for the fourth consecutive year. This ranks CommScope in the top five percent of suppliers assessed by EcoVadis in all categories.
In 2019, across its global facilities operations, the company cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 3%, water withdrawal by 2.5% and diverted 83% of non-hazardous waste from landfill.
CommScope maintains the environmental management system certification to the ISO14001:2015 standard. The certification scope covers 83% of manufacturing facilities.
CommScope is reducing energy use in its Set-Top Boxes (STB) and Small Network Equipment (SNE) products well-ahead of global energy efficiency voluntary agreements adopted by industry leaders. In 2019, 98% of its applicable products exceeded the 90% target set by voluntary agreements in the US, Canada and EU.
The CommScope Home Networks team has eliminated single-use plastics in all new set-top products outside of the Americas and is advocating with its customers for their cooperation in agreeing to remove single use plastics globally. Its Venue and Campus Networks team is also working to eliminate single-use plastics from packaging for all RUCKUS-branded products.
Problems such as climate change and changing demographics are presenting our advancing global society with many challenges. Daikin aims to contribute to sustainable growth for the world by solving social problems and providing society with new value.
In aiming to grow by solving social problems, Daikin carries out management toward creating value in the short, medium, and long terms. For the short and medium terms, we have formulated our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Action Plan to assess the impact our business has on society. For the long term, we have formulated Environmental Vision 2050, through which we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and identify possible risks and opportunities for Daikin in the future. Daikin sets concrete targets every five years and propose and implement measures toward achieving these.
Daikin’s Aims for Value Creation: Provide new value that makes people and space healthier and more comfortable while at the same time reducing environmental impact.
Value Creation for the Earth – Reduce environmental impact through all business activities and contribute to alleviating climate change
Further raise the environmental performance of products
Make effective use of resources
Protect forests and help sustain their inherent functions
Value Creation for Cities – Contributing to solving energy-related issues arising from urbanization and contribute to the creation of sustainable cities
Effectively use energy throughout entire buildings and entire cities
Build systems for recycling-based societies
Create new types of energy
Value Creation for People – Pursue new possibilities for air and contribute to healthy, comfortable lifestyles
Protect people from heatstroke and infectious diseases
Protect people’s health from atmospheric pollution
Improve indoor environments to support people’s comfortable and affluent lifestyles
Dow’s ambition is to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Sustainability is the cornerstone of Dow’s business and underpins each and every decision we make. These principles led Dow more than 30 years ago to create a voluntary board committee focused on environmental health and safety to ensure that sustainable principles were driven from the top of the company. A few years later, Dow was among the first to create an external sustainability advisory council – comprised of representatives from business, government, academia and NGOs – to advise and challenge the company on sustainability strategies and goals. Today, this is considered a best practice.
Most recently, Dow announced aggressive new commitments to complement its 2025 Sustainability Goals to address both climate change and plastic waste, including:
1. Protect the Climate: As part of our action plan to put us on a path to carbon neutrality by 2050, we are committed to implementing and advancing technologies to manufacture our products using less resources.
Target: By 2030, Dow will reduce its net annual carbon emissions by 5 million metric tons versus its 2020 baseline (15% reduction). By 2050, Dow intends to be carbon neutral (Scopes 1+2+3 plus product benefits).
2. Stop the Waste: We are committed to investing and collaborating in key technologies and infrastructure to significantly increase global recycling.
Target: By 2030, Dow will help “stop the waste” by enabling 1 million metric tons of plastic to be collected, reused or recycled through its direct actions and partnerships.
3. Close the Loop: We are committed to working directly with our customers, brand owners and the value chain to help redesign and promote reusable or recyclable packaging applications.
Target: By 2035, Dow will CLOSE THE LOOP by enabling 100% of Dow products sold into packaging applications to be reusable or recyclable.
Graybar’s commitment to sustainability is an expression of our company’s core values, particularly our long-term view. We believe long-term success is more important than short-term gains; this belief influences all aspects of our business. We strive to keep our company strong and healthy for future generations. In doing so, we look for ways to make the world a better place.
Hitachi Cable
Hitachi aims to meet the expectations of society by achieving innovations that help resolve environmental issues. We hope to address a broad range of environmental challenges in developing our products and services, such as reducing carbon emissions, improving resource efficiency, and minimizing impact on natural capital across the value chain. Guided by an Environmental Vision defining the goals of environmental management from a broader perspective, we announced in September 2016 a set of long-term environmental targets called Hitachi Environmental Innovation 2050 to achieve a low carbon society, a resource efficient society, and a harmonized society with nature.
Leviton Network Solutions is committed to preventing pollution and protecting the environment. We are focused on continuous improvement and integrating environmental considerations into our product development process, as part of our ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems certification we maintain at our facilities.
Our efforts include a strong focus on recyclable materials and minimizing the environmental impact of packaging. We are increasing the recycled material content in our packaging as well as making it easier to recycle as part of our design process. In addition, we have upped our efforts to include biodegradable ink on packaging, minimize single use plastics, and introduce more bulk packaging options to reduce waste on the jobsite.
Leviton strives to continually improve environmental management practices in all aspects of our business. Our products meet our customer’s expectations for quality, performance, and ease of use, while meeting our compliance obligations and conserving resources to preserve the environment for future generations.
As a global leader in the cable industry, sustainability is a critical concern for us. The Prysmian Group is committed to environmental responsibility in our production processes, the protection of the environment generally and the responsible management of relations with the local communities in which we work. All of this is, of course, underpinned by a constant focus on safety at work and the development of our personnel.
As the standard package for most types of structured cabling, REELEX takes environmental impact very seriously. Because most packaging is one-time use, we develop new ways to reduce the use of materials, create even easier to recycle packaging designs and assist our licensees in developing new environmentally-friendly designs.
When compared with other packaging methods, REELEX allows the greatest opportunity to use recyclable, reusable, compostable, and reclaimed materials. Compost it, recycle it, or sell it. When you use REELEX, you have disposal choices beyond just the dumpster.
Worried about jobsite waste volume? Because spools and reels rarely get broken down prior to disposal, the volume they take up is enormous compared to their weight. Empty REELEX packages take up to 39% less volume when broken down as comparable spools.
Sentinel Connector Systems
Sentinel Connector Systems, a LEADING EDGE RJ-45 CONNECTOR MANUFACTURER, is GOING GREEN and helping the environment through aggressive R&D programs, automated manufacturing technologies and energy saving initiatives.
Environmental Accomplishments:
- Under Sentinel’s “Design for Production” philosophy and investment in automation, molding equipment and processes operate 24/7 with essentially no scrap of non–recyclable materials. Sentinel’s commitment to automation as a strategy to drive down energy consumption enables its molding floor to operate in a total “lights out” environment with minimal on- site supervision. The result is significantly lower overall energy consumption, further reducing strain on the grid during periods of peak power demand.
- New energy efficient lighting systems installed throughout the facility to reduce operating costs, improve light quality and lower maintenance costs. Over the fifteen year life of the system, savings are estimated at 3,400,555 kWh. Corresponding environmental benefits include 5,236,855 pounds of Carbon Dioxide emissions avoided, 10,202 Pounds of nitrogen oxide emissions avoided and 20,403 pounds of sulfur dioxide emissions avoided. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful environmental pollutants, this will reduce air pollution and improve air quality, equivalent to 2,542,163 pounds of coal not burned or 649 acres of forestation (trees) added or 457 cars removed from the road or 284 homes provided with electricity.
- Major investment in air conditioning upgrades include installation of new, energy efficient air conditioning systems resulting in a threefold increase in energy efficiency.
- Other projects, planned or underway, include: installation of roof top solar panels to provide electricity for the building by working with government agencies and consultants; extensive reprocessing/recycling all paper, plastic, and metal scrap materials including the precious metal recovery of gold plated parts.
- RoHS – Restriction of Hazardous Substances compliance. Sentinel Connector Systems adheres to the European Union Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment 2002/95/EC.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of communications cable, Superior Essex products serve as the backbone of numerous systems that enable our connected world. And for the 90 years that we have been in business, we have witnessed – and created – a massive evolution in the communications technologies we support, as well as their impact on the environment.
Recognizing that our products have global effects, our entire company has shifted focus to design and manufacture the most sustainable communications cable products available in the marketplace. We now proudly feature Environmental Product Declarations, Health Product Declarations, Red List Free certifications (like Declare and Living Product Challenge certification), and products that seek to reduce their carbon footprint (embodied carbon) on over 55+ families (1000’s of individual SKUs) of our communications cable products. We produce these products at a facility that has been third-party certified Zero Waste to Landfill since 2014. And as a result of our collective efforts, we have attained a gold level rating in our sustainability assessment by the Telecommunications Industry Association, the highest level a company can achieve.
We do all this industry-leading work because we know that true sustainability is more than a just marketing label gained through acronyms. For us, sustainability is a responsibility – a way for us to make a real impact in the communities and industries we serve. Because we firmly believe that the technology that interconnects the world should also respect it.
Topic Resources
CCCA Provides the industry with a wide variety of resources to educate and inform. From videos to articles to white papers, we encourage everyone interacting with cable and connectivity to refer to these resources when making buying or installation decisions.