ANDERSON, NC — Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI) is a global company that designs, produces, and markets power tools, hand tools, power equipment, and floor care appliances. 

The TTI Innovation Center in Charlotte, South Carolina focuses primarily on the production of floor care appliances such as Hoover, Dirt Devil, and Oreck. There are approximately 1100 employees at that facility.

TTI’s commitment to sustainability is a part of their broader responsibility to their employees, customers, investors, partners, and their business. TTI’s approach to sustainability involves instilling Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) best practices in the way they operate, what they produce, how they source, and how they live. Despite the global pandemic, TTI received The Home Depot’s Environmental Partner of the year award in 2020 for their commitment to revolutionary, environmentally responsible products. 

When designing and building the TTI Innovation Center, the TTI sustainability team was already striving to meet goals and vision for ESG. They purchased the LFC biodigester during building construction in 2018 and plan on purchasing another unit towards the end of 2021.

TTI’s ESG approach and strategic framework

Sustainability is at the core of TTI’s business. Their strategic framework for ESG is based on their engagement with stakeholders to learn about priorities, needs, and key concerns. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, one of the focus areas is on the Environment. TTI set goals to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2), and set ambitious 2030 environmental goals. They focused on sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and climate change.

When food waste is discarded into a landfill, it generates methane gas as a byproduct. This is a process that harms the environment by generating significant greenhouse gas emissions. Although considered a Scope 3 emission, food waste is responsible for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. 

Building construction with sustainability in mind

When constructing and building the TTI Innovation Center, the sustainability team was thinking ahead to meet future ESG goals. The TTI Innovation Center utilized a trash compactor for their solid waste. Any food waste trapped into the trash would create odor and pest issues. By using the LFC biodigester, all compressed trash would be clear of any organic waste that could possibly rot and decay.

“We put waste [in the LFC biodigester] every day. We make sure the food waste doesn’t have plastics or paper,” said Kent Coleman, Sr. Manager, Environmental, Social and Governance Programs at TTI. “I checked the machine, weight, and status of operations (at least) five days a week.“

The LFC biodigester neatly disposes of all the food waste resulting from kitchen preparations in the cafeteria and turns the waste into water.

Sustainable Waste Disposal after a Pandemic

During the pandemic, it was inevitable that the TTI Innovation Center would close their cafeteria and minimize operations to meet CDC guidelines and regulations. In a post covid-world, TTI reopened its cafeteria. The LFC biodigester had not been in use from March 2020 but resumed operations in May 2021. Despite low to minimal using through the pandemic, the LFC biodigester resumed operations without an issue. 

TTI continues to expand their facilities and with the ground being broken for a new facility, they have also begun to think about maintaining intelligent, clean operations for the future. The new building will have another cafeteria but Kent is interested in purchasing a separate LFC biodigester for it. 

“The LFC biodigester we purchased [for the TTI Innovation Center] is able to accommodate food waste from our new building, but it makes sense to get another LFC biodigester,” said Kent. “Towards the end of 2021, we’re looking to purchase another one.“