Cummins lauded as a top organization for environmental innovation globally

The ranking in Sagacious IP’s GREEN100 Index follows Cummins’ record year for global patents of all types in 2020. The company received 312 global patents that year, topping its previous record of 287 reached in 2017. That’s a nearly 9% improvement over Cummins’ previous record and a more than 12% increase over 2019. 

“The GREEN100 Index is an annual feature to recognize organizations who are working and innovating relentlessly for building a green future,” said Tarun Kumar Bansal, President, Sagacious IP. “I congratulate Cummins for being at the forefront of green innovation and entwining sustainability within the company’s goals.”

ABOUT THE INDEX

The index includes 100 companies and universities from around the world, ranging from Qualcomm, the semi-conductor, software and wireless technology company based in San Diego, California (U.S.), which ranked first in the report, to Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, the French materials design, distribution and manufacturer, which ranked No. 100. Cummins ranked No. 92 in the study.

The United States had the most organizations in the GREEN100 with 39 followed by Japan with 20. The patents reviewed as part of the study generally fell into one of 10 groupings: energy and power; transportation - motor vehicles and parts; renewables; information and communication; transportation - airlines; industrial machinery; building and infrastructure; chemical; health care; and metal processing.

Sagacious IP is one of the largest global intellectual property research and consulting firms, headquartered in Gurgaon, India, with offices around the world. Established in 2008, it has more than 1,000 clients in over 45 countries. 

The firm’s GREEN100 index explored global patents from 2015 to 2020 to judge companies based on their commitment to a more environmentally sound future, their current impact on that future, and their potential to influence the future. Sagacious says its methodology goes beyond evaluating companies on the quantity of their relevant patents to also judge them on the quality of those patents.

The goal of the study and ranking, according to Sagacious, is to raise awareness and spark conversation around the quality of innovation being achieved to address issues like the world’s climate challenges.

A RECORD OF INNNOVATION

Cummins has been quickly emerging as a leader in new low carbon power technologies such as battery and fuel cell electric as well as electrolyzers to produce renewable hydrogen by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The company’s New Power business segment has been part of a number of firsts recently, including the world’s first hydrogen powered passenger train.

Meanwhile, Cummins has been working to improve its diesel and natural gas platforms to reduce heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) as well as key contributors to smog such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. 

The company has invested significant amounts in innovation, topping $900 million in research, development and engineering expenses in each of the past three years, including a record $1 billion in 2019.

Cummins aspires to be carbon neutral by 2050 under the company’s PLANET 2050 environmental sustainability strategy. PLANET 2050 also includes science-based goals timed to 2030 that are aligned to the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The company recently wrapped up work on environmental goals timed to 2020, achieving significant reductions in water and energy use at Cummins facilities while increasing recycling. The company also worked with customers to reduce the GHGs generated by Cummins products in use.

Cummins will be posting those results soon in the company's 2020 Sustainability Progress Report. More on Cummins' sustainability initiatives can be found on the company's sustainability website.