#Sustainability #USA #Chicago #EcoVadis #Charter Next Generation

Charter Next Generation Publishes 2024 Impact Report

Charter Next Generation (CNG), a prominent name in sustainable material science, has released its highly anticipated 2024 Impact Report, aptly titled "Real People. Real Purpose." This report not only details the company's significant strides in sustainability but also emphasizes its commitment to creating long-lasting value for its customers, communities, and employee-owners. Notably, CNG has garnered a top 15% ranking among over 130,000 global companies on the EcoVadis platform, which is recognized as a leader in sustainability assessments.

Key Achievements

In 2024, CNG saw a remarkable increase in the sales of its GreenArrow™ compostable films, effectively doubling its market presence. Alongside this, the company broadened its spectrum of sustainability certifications and was honored with a silver medal from EcoVadis. This accolade also recognized CNG's Leader status on its Carbon Scorecard, highlighting its effective greenhouse gas management practices. These achievements underscore CNG's resolute commitment to driving forward its sustainability goals while supporting its partners in attaining their own environmental objectives.

Kathy Bolhous, CNG's Chairman and CEO, articulated the company's ethos, stating, "As a leading material science company, our impact extends far beyond products—it's about people, purpose, and shared ownership." She further accentuated how the company's culture of employee ownership fuels innovation and drives positive changes that benefit both local communities and the larger planet.

Sustainability Focus

CNG's sustainability roadmap is driven by scientific targets established by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company is on a challenging trajectory aiming to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% and Scope 3 emissions intensity by 52% by the year 2030. Ultimately, the company has set a long-term objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The report further elaborates CNG's efforts to enhance product circularity, transition towards renewable energy sources, and foster water conservation and waste reduction initiatives. In 2024, CNG has also prioritized the integration of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content into its product lines, spearheading advancements in sustainable packaging solutions through its recycle-ready product offerings.

Employee Culture and Community Engagement

The bedrock of CNG's operational success is its unique ownership culture and people-centric philosophy. The company boasts a Total Recordable Incident Rate that is less than half the U.S. manufacturing industry average, evidencing its dedication to employee safety and well-being. Furthermore, CNG's employee engagement metrics are notably impressive, placing the company in the 86th percentile among peers in the manufacturing sector.

The employee ownership model also manifests in CNG's Moonshot Challenge, which is an innovation program led by employee-owners aimed at generating bold and practical ideas that refine operations, elevate customer service, and drive corporate growth.

CNG actively engages with communities, providing substantial financial support to local organizations that promote sustainability, workforce development, and social equity. The initiative encourages employee-owners to direct philanthropic efforts towards causes that resonate with their own values and reflect CNG's corporate priorities.

In summary, the 2024 Impact Report serves as a testament to CNG's mission of delivering long-term value by aligning corporate growth with environmental and social accountability. By nurturing an employee-centric culture and committing to sustainable innovations, CNG steps forward to shape a more circular and low-carbon future while remaining faithful to its driving purpose of enhancing lives for a better world. The full impact report can be accessed here.