Environment
Environment: the foundation for a sustainable future
Tackling climate change. It is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. As a company, you play a crucial role in this effort. It is essential to understand how business operations contribute to greenhouse gas emissions — and what steps you can take to reduce this impact. With a targeted approach, it doesn’t stop at mere ambition — you turn it into tangible action that delivers results. And that is making an impact.
Environment: one pillar, four themes
Addressing climate change: a social and strategic necessity
Combating climate change is a reality that affects us all. Greenhouse gas emissions are driving this change. The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement reflects a global consensus to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050, with significant progress expected by 2030. The European Union and the Dutch government have also committed to these ambitious goals: by reducing their emissions by 55% and 60%, respectively, compared to 1990 levels.
Mapping the Carbon Footprint
As a company that makes an impact through its own operations and value chain, you are an essential part of this global movement. Measuring and actively addressing your carbon footprint and that of your products is therefore no longer just an environmental obligation. It is increasingly becoming a social and strategic necessity for survival and growth in a rapidly changing world. Transparency and reporting are also playing an ever-greater role in this context. Companies are increasingly aligning themselves with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement by pursuing targets such as Net Zero and involving their supply chain partners in this effort.
Reduction Strategy
Companies that are reducing emissions are implementing strategies to cut their greenhouse gas emissions — from improving energy efficiency to investing in renewable energy sources. And from revising production processes and upgrading equipment to less polluting alternatives to increasing sustainability throughout the supply chain. The more companies reduce their emissions, the greater the collective impact on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
Contribute to climate goals
We often see that there’s no shortage of ambition, but putting it into practice raises questions. How do you go about it? Where do you start? How do you get stakeholders on board? On top of that, there are a number of challenges. We support companies and organizations. Together, we develop a climate strategy. Our approach is practical, easy to understand, and aligned with recognized standards such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (Scopes 1, 2, and 3, and the Product Standard).
Here’s how we do it
1. Measuring and understanding
Start by measuring and understanding your CO₂ footprint, whether it’s for your organization or product. This is the first step toward an effective climate strategy. It involves mapping emissions across all business activities and identifying opportunities to reduce them. We assist companies in developing a measurement methodology, conducting a carbon footprint assessment, and actively involving the entire organization in this process to foster ownership and engagement. This way, departments become aware of their contribution to the carbon footprint, gain a better understanding of how they can reduce emissions, and can clearly track the progress of their efforts.
2. Setting goals
Once the carbon footprint is clear, we move on to formulating a climate strategy. We ensure that this strategy is firmly embedded within the corporate culture. This process begins with identifying appropriate measures to reduce emissions, after which we set specific goals. Next, we make it concrete: we map out actions on a timeline, identify associated costs and challenges, and assign clearly defined tasks and responsibilities within your organization by mobilizing working groups. To reinforce the climate strategy, your organization can join the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). We ensure that every step meets the criteria set for this purpose.
3. Reporting
We provide support in developing reports that are not only transparent and comprehensive but also stand up to external audits. We help you accurately report on environmental impact, climate strategies, and reduction targets — all in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines. By ensuring the reliability and credibility of these reports, we enable your company to effectively monitor its progress while maintaining the trust of stakeholders. We’ve already helped many companies and organizations get started, and we’re proud of that. For example, read how we supported Avebe — an ingredient supplier that produces potato starch and protein — in the creation of its integrated annual report.
