{"id":13347,"date":"2016-11-04T17:40:28","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/can-the-miracles-of-sciencetm-deliver-a-miracle\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T17:41:43","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T21:41:43","slug":"can-the-miracles-of-sciencetm-deliver-another-miracle","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/can-the-miracles-of-sciencetm-deliver-another-miracle\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the Miracles of Science(TM) Deliver Another Miracle?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can the Miracles of ScienceTM<\/sup> Deliver Another Miracle?<\/strong><\/p>\n

DuPont is a science company, leveraging the power of science to address fundamental needs across three dimensions: food, energy, and protection.1<\/sup> With a breadth of scientific expertise, operations across 90 countries, and a 200+ year history of creating breakthrough technologies, the company is positioned to address the global challenges that arise as a result of climate change.2<\/sup> At the same time, climate change will impact DuPont\u2019s existing on-going operations with pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize their impact in high water-risk regions.<\/p>\n

As a result, DuPont is taking a two-fold approach that ensures their new business developments are driven by market-demands for sustainable technologies, and that their existing businesses are managed to reduce their environmental impact.1<\/sup> While they are making strides, I believe DuPont needs to ensure they are delivering on short-term financial expectations and needs to improve their external communications. This is necessary to ensure they are positioned to continue making investments in scientific innovations that will have returns in the long-run.<\/p>\n

Market-Driven Innovation<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

DuPont\u2019s focus on leveraging their scientific platform to address global challenges will be its greatest strength to adapt to the impact climate change will have on business: from addressing pressures on food supply to shifting away from fossil fuels to driving improvements in energy efficiency.3 <\/sup>These challenges can be addressed by DuPont\u2019s core competency<\/em> of managing the scientific process from discovery through commercialization, and can be seen both directly and indirectly in each of the DuPont businesses. Furthermore, DuPont has taken a comprehensive approach working with collaborators, regulators, NGOs, and the community, which will allow them to continue delivering results to meet both global and local needs.4 <\/sup>This approach is supported both with internal goals and incentives, such as the 2020 Sustainability Goals, as well as external partner award programs to discover unique applications of DuPont products that have a positive impact.5<\/sup><\/p>\n

Food Security<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

While a complex issue, DuPont is making a tangible impact in food security by increasing agriculture efficiency through improved yields and crop protection, as well as leveraging existing materials to improve food freshness and reduce waste. Since over 1.3 billion tons of food, or one third of the world\u2019s supply, is wasted in the food chain, DuPont is designing products that can reduce the environmental burden of feeding a global population.6 <\/sup>For example, they are collaborating with Cargolux to utilize Tyvek\u00ae for cargo covers that provide temperature protection in-transit, and Parakah Agro to utilize Bynel\u00ae for a low-cost pouch that can deliver fresh milk in unrefrigerated conditions. 7,8<\/sup><\/p>\n

Alternative Energy<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Utilizing science to shift away from fossil fuels can be seen directly in the photovoltaics business with improvements to solar technology, such as DuPont Solamet\u00ae which can improve solar cell efficiency to 21%.9 <\/sup>Similarly, opening the world\u2019s largest next-generation cellulosic ethanol plant demonstrates DuPont\u2019s commitment to long-term sustainable solutions.10<\/sup><\/p>\n

Energy Efficiency<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Investments in indirect technologies are proving equally fruitful. For example, DuPont\u2019s advancements in enzyme technologies have delivered a unique cool-water detergent in collaboration with P&G. Tide Coldwater Clean is able to provide the same level of quality to end customers, while reducing emissions by 32.3 metric tons in the U.S. alone.11 <\/sup>This is an example of a win-win technology for DuPont, collaborators, customers, and the environment.<\/p>\n

Overall, each of these examples demonstrates that DuPont\u2019s innovation engine is able to deliver fruitful technologies that deliver financial results, benefit customers, and meet the challenges of climate change.<\/p>\n

Current Operations<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to developing new technologies, DuPont also needs to address the challenges that arise from their existing manufacturing operations due to increased regulatory pressure, as well as industry and societal expectations. U.S. manufacturing operations account for 80% of industrial carbon-emissions and are the 4th<\/sup> largest source of water usage.12,13 <\/sup>Due to this magnitude, industry has a responsibility to manage their footprint to reduce the impact of the physical manifestations of climate change. Organizations, such as DuPont, are doing so by setting footprint reduction goals across their manufacturing network, such as a 7% reduction in emissions.14<\/sup><\/p>\n

Is it Enough?<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

While DuPont has tied its strategic priorities to global trends that are influenced by climate change and has made progress towards ongoing sustainability goals, the business reality of delivering on short-term financial expectations could undermine ongoing innovation. For example, significant reductions to basic research could hinder the very competency and innovation pipeline that has sustained the company to-date.15 <\/sup>As a result, the right balance between current returns and long-term investments needs to be attained so the engine that delivers the Miracles of ScienceTM<\/sup> can continue to discover and commercialize the next game-changing miracle.<\/p>\n

Word Count:<\/strong><\/span> 760<\/p>\n

Citations<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 2016 Global Reporting Initiative Report. DuPont Sustainability Reporting<\/em>. 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.dupont.com\/content\/dam\/dupont\/corporate\/our-approach\/sustainability\/documents\/2016-sustainability-documents\/DuPont%202016%20GRI%20Report.pdf<\/li>\n
  2. CDP 2016 Climate Change Information Request. DuPont Sustainability Reporting<\/em>. 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.dupont.com\/content\/dam\/dupont\/corporate\/our-approach\/sustainability\/documents\/2016-sustainability-documents\/ProgrammeResponseClimate%20Change%202016.pdf]<\/li>\n
  3. Henderson, R.M., Rienert, S.A., Dekhtyar, P., Migdal, A. Climate Change in 2016: Implications for Business. 2016, Oct 14. 性视界 Business School Publishing.<\/em><\/li>\n
  4. 2015 Data Book. DuPont Investor Relations: Quarterly and Annual Reports<\/em>. 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/investors.dupont.com\/investor-relations\/filings-and-reports\/quarterly-and-annual-reports\/default.aspx.<\/li>\n
  5. Sustainability Infographic. DuPon<\/em> 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.dupont.com\/corporate-functions\/sustainability\/sustainability-commitments\/goals-progress\/sustainability-infographic.html.<\/li>\n
  6. Food Loss and Food Waste. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations<\/em>. 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.fao.org\/food-loss-and-food-waste\/en\/<\/li>\n
  7. Reducing Food Waste with DuPont\u2122 Tyvek\u00ae Air Cargo Covers. DuPont<\/em>. 2016 [ONLINE] Available at: http:\/\/www.dupont.co.uk\/products-and-services\/fabrics-fibers-nonwovens\/covers\/videos\/Video-tyvek-aircargo.html.<\/li>\n
  8. Putrich, G.S. P&G, Plastipak and Parakah Agro win DuPont packaging honors. Plastics News<\/em>. 2014, May 16. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.plasticsnews.com\/article\/20140516\/NEWS\/140519931\/pg-plastipak-and-parakah-agro-win-dupont-packaging-honors]<\/li>\n
  9. Ryan, C. TSEC, DuPont to showcase new solar panels at PV EXPO 2015. 2016, Feb 24. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.pv-tech.org\/news\/tsec_dupont_to_showcase_new_solar_panels_at_pv_expo_2015.<\/li>\n
  10. Lane, J. DuPont opens world\u2019s largest cellulosic ethanol plant in Iowa. Biofuels Digest<\/em>. 2015 Nov 1. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.biofuelsdigest.com\/bdigest\/2015\/11\/01\/dupont-opens-worlds-largest-celulosic-ethanol-plant-in-iowa-the-full-story-in-pictures\/.<\/li>\n
  11. DuPont, P&G product cleans clothes, saves energy. The News Journal<\/em>. 2014, Mar 15. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.delawareonline.com\/story\/money\/2014\/03\/14\/dupont-pg-product-cleans-clothes-saves-energy\/6432521\/.<\/li>\n
  12. Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in Manufacturing. 2016. S. Energy Information Administration<\/em>. [Online] Available at: https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/emeu\/efficiency\/carbon_emissions\/carbon_mfg.html.<\/li>\n
  13. Water Use and Conservation in Manufacturing. S. Department of Commerce, Center for Economic Studies<\/em>. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/content\/dam\/Worldbank\/Feature%20Story\/SDN\/Water\/events\/IWREC2014-Session2A-Water-Use-Manufacturing-RandyBecker-Sept8.pdf<\/li>\n
  14. 2016 Sustainability Progress Report. DuPont Sustainability Reporting<\/em>. 2016. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/www.dupont.com\/content\/dam\/dupont\/corporate\/our-approach\/sustainability\/documents\/DuPont-Sustainability-Report-2015_111615.pdf.<\/li>\n
  15. Tullo, A.H. Why DuPont Shrunk Its Central Research Unit. Chemical & Engineering News<\/em>. 2016, Jan 25. [Online] Available at: http:\/\/cen.acs.org\/articles\/94\/i4\/DuPont-Shrunk-Central-Research-Unit.html.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Leveraging science to deliver innovative solutions that meet the challenges of climate change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2120,"featured_media":13348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1243,955,1852,130,663,1608,1928,1697],"class_list":["post-13347","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agribusiness","category-alternative-energy","category-dupont","category-energy-efficiency","category-product-innovation","category-research-and-development","category-science","category-technological-innovation"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nCan the Miracles of Science(TM) Deliver Another Miracle? - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/can-the-miracles-of-sciencetm-deliver-another-miracle\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Can the Miracles of Science(TM) Deliver Another Miracle? 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