Environmental Sustainability

Northrop Grumman recognizes that environmental sustainability is a matter of national security. Climate change is influencing natural disasters, population displacements, and conflicts over essential resources like food and water, which all contribute to destabilization. That’s why we’re dedicated to meeting the environmental challenges facing our world with solutions and technology that expand the boundaries of what it means to define possible as a global steward.

Address the fundamental needs driving environmental sustainability by minimizing the footprint of our operations. Footprint goals include:

• Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in operations (Scopes 1 and 2) by 2035. Interim target of 50% reduction by 2030.
• Source 50 percent of total electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
• Reduce 10% of absolute water withdrawals, reuse 10% of water withdrawals, and replenish 10% of water withdrawals, focusing in water stressed regions--all by 2030
• Reduce solid waste sent to landfill and incineration by 10% by 2030.

Over the past decade, we have taken meaningful action to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations. We are prepared to do our part to support goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and drive global GHG emissions to net zero by 2050. As the next step in our journey to decarbonize, we are committed to achieving net zero GHG emissions in our operations by 2035. As a part of this commitment, we will continue to emphasize efficiency and invest in low and zero carbon energy solutions.

• We currently have four sites that host onsite solar generation. Our most recent addition, at our Rolling Meadows, Illinois site, came online at the beginning of 2021.
• We have also made a commitment to source 100% of our electricity in Virginia from a solar farm that is currently being constructed within the Commonwealth.

Learn more about onsite solar generation in Illinois


Learn more about our Virginia onsite solar farm

As a critical resource for our operations and within our communities, we recognize that access to and availability of water can be a localized challenge. We mainly use our water withdrawals to support building evaporative cooling and humidification and manufacturing processes, as well as traditional domestic water uses.

• We complete regular water assessments at our sites, including our major manufacturing sites, to gain valuable insight into the use patterns of our operations.
• Our Redondo Beach, California, location successfully connected a municipal reclaimed water line to the cooling towers of three buildings onsite. This project offset potable water usage by 16 million gallons of water per year, which is enough to fill 24 Olympic-size swimming pools.

Aquatic Agility: Repurposing Wastewater as an Ultra-Pure Resource 

Our Electric Vehicle (EV) Workplace Charging Program has become an increasingly important service that we provide for employees, especially as we continue to see demand for electric vehicles rise.

• We opened our first ever fleet-only EV charging station in the company at one of our manufacturing sites located in West Virginia.
• Select sites partner with local utilities on charging stations. One example is our Azusa, California, which partnered with Southern California Edison on 39 charging stations.

Read about Electric Persistence in Azuza

Northrop Grumman technology has always been at the forefront of tackling the toughest challenges facing our planet—including climate change. From satellites that collect data to track changes on the Earth’s surface to unmanned aircraft that produce fewer emissions than traditional manned options, we’re redefining how technology can advance global stewardship.

Landsat 9: The Mission Learn more on How Advanced Technology is Creating New Solutions for Climate Change

Northrop Grumman’s Technology for Conservation (T4C) innovation projects are a unique way to build on the company’s emphasis of environmental sustainability, evolve our partnerships with conservation organizations and provide new opportunities for employees. By combining the expertise of Northrop Grumman engineers with the conservation organizations’ knowledge of Earth’s ecosystems, these projects are able to leverage the best of today’s technologies to enhance and scale conservation programs.

Read more about Tech for Conservation Illuminating the Bay with a SPARK