With 37 years of innovation under our belt, SunPower is not just the longest-standing major solar company in the U.S., we’re also one of the most recognizable brands. Our team plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable, equitable and inclusive business practices. And, as part of our commitment to change how the world is powered, SunPower recently released our 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report to show homeowners and solar energy advocates alike what we accomplished in 2021, as well as commitments through 2022 and beyond.
Below are a few highlights from the report, featuring the work we’ve done to reduce carbon emissions, support supplier and dealer diversity and minimize waste streams.
Environmental impact
Since 2005, SunPower solar installations have generated 133 terawatt-hours (TWh), the equivalent of avoiding 94 million metric tons of carbon emissions. The offset CO2 from our world-class products is equivalent to negating greenhouse gas emissions from 104 billion pounds of coal burned or 11 billion gallons of gasoline consumed. In 2021 alone, we enabled 14 million metric tons of CO2e of carbon avoidance for our customers.
Electric fleet and green logistics
SunPower’s focus on sustainability extends to our logistics, freight network and vehicle fleet, with specific goals established to reduce carbon emissions. The targets we’ve set to maximize a positive environmental impact includes converting at least 90% of our U.S. fleet of vehicles to electric or hybrid vehicles by 2030. Additionally, SunPower is working to reduce carbon emissions from our downstream freight, establishing programs to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. SunPower products and services -- along with the efforts of our homeowners -- already make a palpable difference in the fight against climate change, and these new operational efforts further amplify this effort.
SunPower’s 25x25 pledge and supplier diversity
In September 2021, SunPower launched a 25x25 Initiative with a series of new commitments established to accelerate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the solar industry by 2025. The 25x25 Initiative outlines pledges to increase workforce diversity, expand solar energy access for historically marginalized communities and ensure industry equity through new dealer and subcontractor diversity. The obligations in the 25x25 Initiative will be measured in our annual ESG report moving forward.
Part of this initiative is the commitment that by 2025, 25% of SunPower’s U.S. residential homeowners (single and multi-family) will be made up of people who live in historically under-represented communities. To reach this goal, SunPower is establishing a new program to provide homeowners with no-interest loans. Solar power provides a variety of benefits to consumers including decreased energy costs, backup during power outages and the opportunity for energy independence, and we believe these opportunities should be available to all Americans regardless of economic background.
Waste management and product recycling
SunPower utilizes a national network of approved recyclers for our solar panel, electrical and mechanical waste to maintain environmentally responsible disposal of inventory. Components with remaining life are tested, reused or resold. The portion of inventory that is unusable is shipped to Responsible Recycling, a group of recyclers specializing in precious metal salvaging as well as the circular use of raw materials. SunPower also helps to provide homeowners with more accessible module recycling, partnering with PV recyclers regionally to lessen the freight mileage of waste streams.
Additional details about SunPower’s focus on sustainability -- including our efforts towards supplier diversity, health and safety culture and innovative new product offerings -- can be found in the full report by visiting our ESG page.
