Winnebago Industries, Inc published its 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report, featuring baseline data to support the company’s commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and leadership investments in environmental sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Michael Happe, Winnebago Industries president and CEO, said corporate responsibility is at the core of how the company does business.
“Throughout our entire portfolio of premium outdoor brands, we strive to ‘Be great, outdoors,’” Happe said. “Our teams within the Winnebago, Grand Design, Chris-Craft, Newmar and Barletta businesses are truly inspired to demonstrate that corporate responsibility is good for our world, and good for our bottom line. We are committed to people and our planet, for the long term.”
Winnebago stated it engaged with respected vendor partners to establish data-driven baseline assessments for greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste. The work set 2020 as the company’s baseline year for all four of its focus areas: environmental sustainability, people, community and corporate responsibility.
Stacy Bogart, Winnebago Industries senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and corporate responsibility, said the company’s transformation will involve a drive to succeed and continually improve in its approach toward corporate responsibility.
“With bold commitments to people and planet,” Bogart said, “and with data to chart our course, we are positioned to accelerate our progress in 2022.”
Report highlights include:
- Winnebago Industries became a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and signed on to the Business Ambition 1.5oC, committing to set science-based targets in pursuit of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, zero waste-to-landfill and water reduction by 2050.
- Advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within the Winnebago workforce. At the corporate board level, 27% of directors are women and 27% are racially or ethnically diverse. In 2021, the company hired its first head of diversity, equity and inclusion to drive an integrated strategy.
- Winnebago Industries maintained a strong safety record, despite unprecedented risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2016, the company reported that it has reduced its total recordable incidence rate by 70%. In 2021, Happe engaged 500-plus employees in small group listening sessions and manufacturing facility safety walks.
Winnebago invested $1.4 million in community organizations driving social impact in outdoor equity, access and community, such as the National Park Foundation, the Outdoor Foundation and No Barriers USA. CommunityGO employee volunteer teams served local communities with partners including Habitat for Humanity and the Minnesota Vikings Table food truck, a Winnebago Specialty Vehicle.
In 2021, Winnebago introduced the GO Together Fund, designed to assist employees facing hardship. The year-round fund is modeled after the COVID-19 immediate response fund the company created in 2020, providing $425,000 in emergency hardship assistance.
