Taking environmental action

Rockwell Automation: A role model in sustainable practices 

By: Allie Shane, Communications Specialist 
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Rockwell Automation headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Each year on April 22, individuals, corporations and communities around the globe celebrate Earth Day. The holiday is not only an opportunity to collectively give back to the planet, but it serves as a reminder of the continuous progress that must be made to ensure a healthy and safe environment today, tomorrow and for generations to come.  
 
At Rockwell Automation, the global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, sustainability is a deeply connected and systemic effort. The company works year-round to improve sustainability outcomes and make a positive impact.  ​

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Emmanuel Guilhamon, vice president, sustainability, Rockwell Automation

“Our employees are empowered to connect imagination with the potential of technology to make the world more productive and sustainable,” said Rockwell’s Vice President, Sustainability Emmanuel Guilhamon.  
 
In 2010, the company installed a 49,000-square-foot green roof at its global headquarters here in Milwaukee. The roof reduces what is known as ‘heat-island effect,’ a phenomenon where urbanized areas experience significantly warmer temperatures than other surrounding areas. The roof absorbs the heat, bringing down overall temperatures and saving energy costs associated with the building. The roof has also helped the city of Milwaukee prevent millions of gallons of untreated water from flowing into the region’s waterways.  
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Rockwell 2024 Sustainability Report, published in January 2025

That project only scratches the surface of Rockwell’s sustainability initiatives. In 2020, the company announced its 10-year goal of net-zero carbon neutrality. Rockwell’s 2024 Sustainability Report outlines comprehensive emissions data, evident progress toward meeting this goal.  
 
Several figures stand out:  
 

• In 2024, direct and indirect (scope 1 and scope 2) company emissions decreased 18% year-over-year.  

• The company generated $1.9 billion from energy-efficient products and offerings. 

• 91% of Rockwell’s waste was diverted from landfills through recycling, reuse and energy reclamation. This total surpasses the company’s initial goal of 90%.  

• The company achieved a 90% reduction on non-recyclable packaging foams.  

 
Rockwell committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023. SBTi is a corporate climate action organization formed by a strong partnership between the United Nations Global Compact, Carbon Disclosure Project, World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature. Guilhamon shared that Rockwell is continuing to work with the consulting group Kalypso to submit, approve and disclose the company’s net-zero near- and long-term SBTi targets by December 2025. 
 
“Setting the target is just the first step; more importantly, we are building our strategy on how to reach net-zero, and the concrete actions the company will undertake to make this a reality,” said Guilhamon. 
 
Rockwell also recently announced its Direct Air Capture Carbon Agreement with 1PointFive to purchase carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits from its Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility in Texas, another step toward meeting the 2030 net-zero neutrality goal.  
 
Rockwell’s sustainability strategies extend beyond the company to its customers, partners and the community.  
 
Customer-facing teams help customers assess, advance and accelerate their sustainability through the company’s Connected Enterprise®. Guilhamon noted that Rockwell has leveraged the power of AI to help clients optimize their energy consumption and sustainability metrics.  
 
“It’s always exciting to put in practice that our technologies can help our customers on their sustainability journey, in particular when it involves our cutting-edge technology,” said Guilhamon. 
 
Rockwell’s Rok in Action global volunteer program connects employees around the globe with volunteer opportunities. In 2024, employees recorded 22,921 volunteer hours helping a remarkable total of 1,538 nongovernmental organizations. 
 
Here in Milwaukee, the company proudly supports the Urban Ecology Center (UEC) and UEC’s nationally recognized Neighborhood Environmental Education Project. Rockwell employees are also encouraged to participate in local Earth Day celebrations hosted by Rockwell partners like Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful and Harbor District.  

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