The parent company of Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has released a report about the impact of its social and environmental efforts.
NFI Group Inc. (NFI) released its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report for 2021, highlighting the transportation company’s “critical role in driving tangible environmental and social impact.”
NFI’s fourth annual ESG report demonstrates the company’s impact and the significant growth and maturity in the company-wide ESG practices, according to Janice Harper, Executive Vice President of People and Culture at NFI.
“Throughout 2021, we continued to lead the evolution to zero-emission transportation — what we like to call the ZEvolution — through the launch of six new battery and fuel cell-electric models,” Harper said in a statement announcing the report.
She noted that NFI now has zero-emission buses and coaches operating, or on order, in more than 80 cities. In 2021, the company expanded its zero-emission presence in Ireland, Britain, New Zealand and Australia.
“We also accelerated our company-wide sustainability strategy and roadmap, focused on serving all our stakeholders. This included the hiring of a sustainability manager, launching an ESG materiality assessment, and actioning company-wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives,” Harper said.
NFI’s ESG report for 2021 provides updated key performance indicators, highlights for 2021, ESG priorities for 2022, as well as case studies outlining some of the specific projects and initiatives the company undertook during the year.
The report focuses on the three main components of NFI’s Sustainability Pledge, first adopted in 2006: “Better Product. Better Workplace. Better World,” which guides the company’s daily actions and long-term planning.
Here is how the company improved in those three areas, according to the report.
Better Product
Each NFI bus is designed and built for either zero emissions or fuel efficiency. NFI’s lineup of zero-emission and battery-electric products, as well as telematics and connected technology to monitor performance, demonstrate the company’s commitment to a sustainable future for all.
From 2015 through to the end of 2021, NFI delivered 2,032 EUs of zero-emission buses, or ZEBs, that have traveled more than 65 million miles and prevented the emission of billions of pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. NFI electric buses were featured at the 26th United Nations (U.N.) Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, and NFI also expanded its battery recycling partnership with Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.
Better Workplace
In 2021, NFI engaged an independent third party to conduct a DEI survey of the organization to assess its current state and areas for opportunity. The company also:
- Formalized a Human Rights Statement, which includes Freedom of Association.
- Invested $7 million in employee training.
- Conducted a living wage assessment of the company’s main transit bus production facilities, which found that 99.78% of employees were at or above the living wage standard in their region.
NFI focused on building a respectful, inclusive and vibrant workplace culture, the report said. NFI’s board is now 40% female and 80% independent, while the executive leadership team is 21% female.
In 2021, the company implemented a flexible work program, retained eight new team members through its Anniston Workforce Development Program (a national workforce development initiative) and signed onto the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Racial Equity Commitment Program.
Better World
NFI is focused on being a responsible corporate citizen and creating positive change for all its stakeholders and their communities.
In 2021, NFI submitted its first response to CDP’s climate change questionnaire. It also took part in a social innovation lab focused on Indigenous youth employment in the manufacturing industry and completed ongoing projects to improve the company’s operational impact on climate change.
NFI continued its strong relationship with United Way agencies across North America, raising more than $370,000 in 2021. Collectively, NFI has donated more than $3.1 million to the United Way from its workplace campaigns since 2009, according to the report.