Meyers Discovers 2021 Renewable Energy Efforts Lacking, Doubles Down on Promises
Author : Katrina Vicencio | Published On : 19 Dec 2023
Third-Party Audit Revealed Discrepancy in Renewable Energy Figures between Meyers’ 2021 Annual Sustainability Report and Utility Bills, Company Bought Renewable Energy Credits to Compensate
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (March 17, 2023) - Meyers, a Minnesota-based packaging, labeling, and retail display solutions company, recently audited their 2021 Annual Sustainability Report by Green2Sustainable (G2S), a third-party organization. The audit found that in 2021, the company misreported its non-renewable energy usage, which it claimed was 0%.
G2S compared Meyers’ utility bills and their reported figure and found a significant discrepancy, which the company blames on its shallow understanding of renewable electricity data. Michael Dillon, Chief Revenue Officer and Sustainability Committee Chair of Meyers, had this to say:
“Companies that set aggressive renewables goals are liable to fall short or discover uncomfortable truths. We told our clients, partners, and team that we reached 100 percent renewable electricity before the end of 2021 yet that turned out not to be true. We learned a lot through this complicated process and are now better equipped to meet on-going sustainability goals, including out continued commitment to using only carbon-free electricity.”
Meyers reviewed the G2S findings and verified their accuracy. They then purchased additional Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to cover the discrepancy. The company redoubled its partnership with Xcel Energy, their local utility provider, to maximize the amount of renewable electricity they receive and avoid relying on RECs in the future.
The audit gave the Meyers leadership a better understanding of energy measurement and reporting complexities. They recommend that other companies interested in renewable energy regularly conduct third-party expert reviews and audits to validate their data and claims. Meyers CEO Chris Dillon stated:
“We’re on a journey to greatly improve our sustainability and this small setback has only increased our commitment to our plans. Our team quickly set out to purchase additional RECs to make up for the shortfall. I believe we’re setting an example of leadership not just for the packaging industry, but for what responsible companies in any industry should pursue.”
The auditing company, G2S, commends Meyers’ quick and accepting response to the review. Katrina Saucier, Program Manager at Green2Sustainable, said:
“Perfection is unobtainable, and we don’t always get it right, especially the first time. What matters is that we are motivated from a place of authenticity to do the right thing, rather than avoiding the issue. I commend Meyers for showing how a company can be “human” by acknowledging its mistakes and setting a plan of action to fix them. This [reaction] takes courage and integrity.”
As Meyers learned through the audit, true sustainability requires understanding intricate systems and commitment to achieve these goals beyond the surface level.
ABOUT MEYERS:
Meyers started as a small print shop in 1949. The company has since become a globally recognized print services provider specializing in producing creative packaging, labels, and retail displays. Meyers’ partners include brands from the Food & Beverage, Health, Beauty & Cosmetics, and Sports & Outdoors industries, and enjoy its focus on quality and sustainability.
Some prominent brands partnered with Meyers include Hormel, Frito-Lay, Estee Lauder, Ultra Beauty, Saucony, Levi’s, and Microsoft. They have earned their reputation as an industry leader in sustainability and environmental compliance. They are one of only 300 businesses to sign The Climate Pledge in March of 2022.
In April 2022, Meyers pledged to achieve total carbon-neutral operations by 2024. For more information about Meyers and its products, visit their website at https://www.meyers.com/
