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Why Switching to Solar Power is Good for Business

Posted July 16, 2024 by Jennifer DuCray, North America Sustainability Manager

On the shores of Pulicat Lake in southeastern India, Gummidipoondi enjoys mostly sunny days from January through May. The rest of the year, this area averages about 20 sunny days per month, making it an ideal location for capturing solar energy.

Gummidipoondi is also home to one of Kemin’s manufacturing facilities, and the plant there was recently outfitted with 743 kWP solar panels. The 1,384 modules that were installed on the roofs of the buildings generate approximately 30% of the total power consumption for the Kemin facilities at that location.

Reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy sources has been a major focus of Kemin’s sustainability strategy. This is the fourth location across the globe where the company has installed solar panels. Kemin also installed solar panels at its headquarters in Des Moines, U.S., Herenthals, Belgium, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Kemin’s location in Zhuhai, China, will be moving forward with solar installations this fall, which will mark the fifth location globally utilizing the technology. While it requires an upfront cost to install the solar panels, there are several long-term business benefits, including attracting customers and employees who want to work with a company that values sustainability.


Business Preference

Solar Energy is Good for Business

There are financial incentives that go far beyond saving on utilities costs. More and more customers are looking for business partners who share their sustainability goals. According to a 2021 Consumer Intelligence Series survey on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) by PWC, 83 percent of consumers think companies should be actively shaping ESG best practices. 

If a company can show that it is making progress toward reducing its carbon footprint, then it is better suited to attract and retain environmentally conscious customers. Almost all our customers inquire about our sustainability goals. Kemin works with third-party vendors such as EcovadisCDP, and Sedex to validate our ESG work so that our customers know we’re making progress towards our ambitious ESG goals.


Solar Energy is Good for People

A strong focus on sustainability attracts customers and attracts top talent. According to the same PWC study, 86 percent of employees prefer to support or work for companies that care about the same issues they do. Team members are very interested in ESG issues, and this can have a strong impact on their personal career choices

Team members who appreciate working for an environmentally friendly company feel that it aligns with their personal values of sustainability and responsibility towards the planet. Working for a sustainability-minded company can instill a sense of pride and purpose, knowing that their daily efforts contribute to a larger cause of environmental conservation.

Employee preference


About Kemin Images - JennDuCray

 

Jennifer DuCray, North America Sustainability Manager

Jennifer is a sustainability expert with more than 15 years of experience improving products and processes at Kemin Industries.