Motorola Sustainability Journey

Motorola is a company that is continually working to increase sustainability around the world. They strive to achieve this goal through the creation and establishment of sustainability practices and technologies that will reduce carbon and increase efficiency.

In January of 2011, Motorola, Inc. was split into two companies: Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions. Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers.

As reviewed in an article by Shawn Lesser, Motorola is involved in a wide array of sustainbility initiatives ranging from products to processes.

Motorola’s new mobile system in the Madrid Metro system requires up to 50 percent less energy. And because only one server cabinet is required and not six, cooling needs and space is reduced.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology created by Motorola Solutions assists customers in saving money and decreasing their environmental footprints through making operations and distribution more efficient. This helps logistics companies to reduce waste, energy, fuel and carbon.

Motorola Solutions offers mobile computers with top grade GPS technology that efficiently enables dispatch to accurately route and schedule different field workers. The net result is less fuel use, less carbon emitted by vehicles and longer vehicle life.

Motorola Solutions wireless broadband technology assists utility companies in the U.S. to manage smart grids in a more energy efficient manner. The system offers continual monitoring flows of data for utility companies. They can also help consumers monitor energy consumption through the use of smart meters which allow them to use energy more efficiently.

Motorola Solutions also engages employees and helping to raise their environmental awareness and encouraging them to reduce their own and the company’s footprint. In 2007, to honor a contract with the U.S. Army Motorola Solutions used wind and solar power to complete the project.

In 2012 Motorola received an EPA Green Power Leadership Award. The award recognized the company as a leading green power purchaser and for their contribution and commitment to assisting in the advancement of the development of the green power market. In 2012 Motorola purchased approximately 119 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, which is equivalent to the carbon emissions of over 16,000 passenger cars per year, or the total quantity of electricity required to power over 10,000 average homes in the United States per year.

Motorola operates “take back” programs on its own as well as in partnership with a number of different carriers, retailers, and recycling programs.

Motorola Solutions is always looking for ways to reduce the volume and weight of their product packaging through a number of packaging initiatives. This includes providing bulk solutions in an effort to decrease shipping cost and value and expanding the overall utilization of recycled materials.

Motorola Solutions is looking to decrease the environmental footprint of all products by locating alternative options that reduce the impact of all lifecycle stages, including the design, manufacturing, distribution, use, and the end of life cycle of all products.

There are a number of design principles Motorola Solutions uses when it comes to the products, including reduced packaging, improved energy efficiency, and use materials that are better for the environment. They have also increased the overall recyclability of products, and they go beyond required compliance to reduce carbon footprints.