Kornit Digital Releases Second-Annual Impact Report

Kornit Digital, a manufacturer of direct-to-garment printing solutions, recently released its impact report for 2021, highlighting progress made against its goals and further expanding its commitment to a long-term sustainability strategy.

The report outlines the company’s progress to date, as well as future goals and plans focused on addressing waste, chemicals, GHG emissions, energy, product development, employee training, diversity and inclusion, and the company’s supply chain.

According to the company, the analysis also generally follows the Global Reporting Initiative’s standards core reporting framework and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s reporting standards for the professional and commercial services sector.

“Innovation is key to our sustainability efforts, including how we develop our systems and inks, deliver software and services, and engage our employees and communities,” states Omer Kulka, chief marketing officer at Kornit Digital. “This second annual report highlights our steadfast commitment to being a leader in fostering a global community — bringing together employees, customers, and partners — that is both ethical and accountable for creating a more sustainable industry and future.”

Key accomplishments

Kornit’s ongoing dedication to improving ESG practices within its own operations has resulted in company-wide achievements in the areas of:

Climate action and waste management*

• ~16% reduction in GHG emissions intensity
• 39% reduction in hazardous waste intensity from 1.7 tons to 1.04 tons
• 57% reduction in non-hazardous waste intensity from 33 tons to 14 tons

*Intensity measures are per $1 million of revenue

Green chemistry

• Complete elimination of acute toxic amines
• 20% reduction of VOC level in Robusto inkset and 30% of VOC in Eco Ink/Green

DEI and community engagement

• An increase in women in management, from 30% to 35%
• 88% of employees feel respected and free to be authentic at work

Impact strategy

Propelled by an ambition to make a positive impact across all areas of its business and throughout the fashion and textile industries, Kornit further adjusted its impact strategy this year towards more expansive, longer-term goals and objectives. The new strategy is said to reflect the company’s dual role as a change agent in the industry — both as a leader empowering the fashion industry to be more sustainable and as an accountable participant responsible for embracing social and environmental change to make the world a better place.

The holistic strategy accounts for both roles across two fundamental pillars — “Enable the change” and “Be the change” — and incorporates both social and environmental KPIs designed to meet its goals and respond to stakeholders’ input, as well as industry and ecosystem needs:

Enable the change

“Enable the change” accounts for the ways Kornit’s innovative technology enables on-demand, sustainable fashion while aiming to help reduce and ultimately eliminate over-production and associated hazardous environmental impacts. The company’s solutions not only use fewer resources but also remove negative impacts in the form of effluents and other harmful inputs as compared to traditional printing methods. Sample KPIs include:

• • Planet: By 2030, innovate and build a richer suite of products and tools that facilitate further expansion of on-demand production
  • People: By 2030, develop and implement a “Kornit Index” for inclusiveness in all partnerships with fashion designers

Be the change

“Be the change” chronicles the progress made in Kornit’s business operations, as well as future goals, including with respect to green chemistry strategy, measurable reductions in energy emissions, employee health and wellness, community engagement and giving, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sample KPIs include:

• • • Planet: By 2030, reduce the company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity by 75% (based on revenue against 2021 baseline)
    • People: By 2025, achieve full gender pay parity within the company

Kulka concludes, “Since our founding in 2002, Kornit has dedicated itself to creating lasting change in our industry. Our renewed impact strategy further holds us accountable to that vision. In addition to our efforts to reduce our overall environmental impact, we’re focused on the health, safety, and well-being of everyone using our products, improving the lives of our people in the workplace, and positively contributing to the industry and society. While we believe progress has been made, we know there’s more work to be done, and we look forward to driving positive change for our business, our industry, and the ecosystem at large.”