Revitalizing sustainability: EcoOnline's vision for a sustainable future
EcoOnline is committed to taking a leadership role in driving sustainability in the industry, where we aim to make a positive impact within the company, for our customers, and through our supply chain.
The purpose of this plan is to ensure that we have the necessary foundation in place to pursue our ambitions, while also being able to meet increasing reporting regulations and stakeholder demands.
In the dynamic landscape of 2022, EcoOnline has experienced significant transformations that have had a profound impact on our ESG performance and progress. These transformations prompted us to reevaluate our original plan, resulting in the development of a revised roadmap known as our Sustainability Plan 2030.
This revised plan reflects our commitment to adapt and align our strategies with the evolving challenges and opportunities we encounter on our sustainability journey.
The following KPI’s represented in our 2030 Sustainability Plan are defined in alignment with the UN SDGs, an analysis on our 2022 ESG results, and our 2022 materiality analysis.
Setting science based targets
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a collaborative effort between the CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
EcoOnline chooses to adopt the SBTi because it aligns with our business objectives and provides numerous benefits. It offer us a clear goal to work towards, ensuring that our growth is future-proofed and sustainable. Compliance with SBTi also enhances our resilience to evolving regulations in the field of environmental sustainability.
EcoOnline has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To establish a starting point for measuring progress, we have designated 2022 as our baseline year for calculating carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) emissions.
To ensure continuous measurement and track our journey towards carbon neutrality, we will include progress summary in our annual Sustainability Reports.
Based upon the recalculation of our baseline year, we aim to submit our company-wide targets for validation with the SBTi during 2023.
Supplier engagement
To effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we recognize the importance of addressing supplier-specific factors and fostering collaboration. By working closely with our suppliers and encouraging them to collect and provide emission data, we can establish an illustrative supplier emission factor that better reflects the actual emissions associated with our supply chain.
For 2023 our goal is to establish a sustainable procurement policy to encourage suppliers to reduce their environmental impact and report emissions data.
Energy efficiency and renewable energy transitions
In terms of decarbonization, key activities identified for Scope 1 and 2 emissions include improving office natural gas consumption efficiency, procuring 100% renewable energy, and enhancing office electricity consumption efficiency. Prioritizing these efforts, calculations predict a total reduction of emissions by 54% by 2030.
In 2023, our focus is on improving data collection and accuracy by collecting actual consumption data for all offices, ensuring precise measurement of emissions from Scope 1 and 2 sources.
Employee commuting and business travel
Employee commuting and business travel also made up a significant portion of our emissions, indicating the need for us to encourage sustainable transport options and remote working. We recognize that we will need better data to create a more accurate KPI, but based on current data input we have established a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions related to this category, by 2030.
In 2023, we will implement a sustainable travel program, that includes a “fly less initiative” to promote alternative modes of transportation and reduce reliance on business travel.
Creating a positive and diverse workplace culture
At EcoOnline, our primary objective within the social metric of ESG, is to foster a diverse, supportive, and fulfilling working environment that promotes employee satisfaction and engagement. We are dedicated to cultivating a positive workplace culture that embraces diversity and encourages the professional development of our team members.
As part of our commitment to these goals, we have set specific targets for employee engagement and gender diversity. By 2030, we aim to achieve an Employee Engagement score above 7.9, ensuring that our employees feel valued, motivated, and connected to their work. Additionally, we are determined to increase the representation of women in management and leadership roles to 30%, reflecting our dedication to gender equality and empowering women in the workplace.
These objectives serve as a testament to our ongoing efforts to create an inclusive and empowering work environment that supports the growth and success of all our employees. By embracing diversity and prioritizing employee well-being, we aim to establish EcoOnline as a leader in fostering a positive and rewarding workplace culture.
EcoOnline Sustainability Team (EST)
Without actions EcoOnline acknowledge that it’s impossible to reach any of our goals, and to succeed, we will need input from local ambassadors representing a diverse background of roles and expertise.
Late 2022, EcoOnline established an internal team, represented by 17 members, spread across 14 different units, and 8 different countries, ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise. With the goal of uniting ideas and local initiatives, and to streamline our social and climate impact activities to align with our ESG KPI’s, such as GHG reduction initiatives and activities for increased employee engagement.
Through different, planned activities, EcoOnline will ensure that we are actively working towards promoting sustainability, raising awareness, and making a positive impact both internally and within the local communities we operate in.
Here's a breakdown of the planned activities for 2023:
- Engage and educate employees on sustainability issues and practices, covering topics like recycling practices, energy efficiency measures, waste reduction, and other relevant areas.
- Engaging in local ESG-related activities, including volunteer days, such as tree planting, beach cleanups, or community garden initiatives.
- Awareness campaigns organized to promote alternative commuting methods (e.g., cycling, carpooling).
Governance
While long-term goals are essential in sustainability planning, the inclusion of short-term targets for governance metrics highlights the immediate importance of maintaining high ethical standards and compliance. By focusing on these objectives, we reinforce our commitment to responsible business practices and demonstrate our resolve to mitigate potential risks and safeguard our organization's reputation.
Although our governance metrics are rooted in our 2030 sustainability plan, goals primarily focus on critical short-term objectives that are essential for our organization's success, including business ethics, compliance, and risk management.
The yearly Target Zero
Cyber security breaches can have severe consequences for an organization, including financial losses, reputational damage, and compromised customer data. By setting a Zero cyber security breaches target, we prioritize the implementation of robust security measures and invest in the latest technologies to protect our systems and sensitive information. This proactive approach helps us maintain the trust and confidence of our stakeholders.
Similarly, violations of anti-bribery and corruption laws can have far-reaching legal, financial, and reputational implications. As a responsible and ethical organization, we are committed to ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations and laws. By aiming for Zero convictions or fines in this area, we demonstrate our dedication to conducting business with integrity and transparency, promoting a level playing field for all stakeholders involved.
Supplier commitment, employee training and certifications
In addition, our 2030 sustainability plan includes several other key objectives to strengthen our governance practices. These goals encompass supplier commitment, employee training, and certifications for sustainability and health and safety governance. Here are the details:
Supplier compliance assessments
By 2024, we strive to have more than 85% of our suppliers undergo assessments to ensure compliance with the Modern Slavery Act and the Transparency Act. These assessments are crucial in identifying and addressing any potential risks related to human rights violations, forced labor, and unethical practices within our supply chain. By conducting these assessments, we demonstrate our commitment to transparency, ethical sourcing, and responsible business practices.
Employee training on data and business ethics
As part of our commitment to fostering a culture of ethics and integrity, our goal is to have 100% of our employees trained on data and business ethics by 2024. This training equips our employees with the necessary knowledge and skills to handle data responsibly, maintain confidentiality, and make ethical decisions in their day-to-day work. By investing in their professional development and ethical awareness, we promote a strong ethical foundation across the organization.
Certifications for sustainability and health and safety governance
During 2023, we aim to kick off the process of becoming ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified. These certifications are internationally recognized standards for environmental management and occupational health and safety management systems, respectively. By pursuing these certifications, we demonstrate our commitment to sustainable practices, effective risk management, and the well-being of our employees. These efforts align with our broader sustainability goals and showcase our dedication to achieving high standards in governance, sustainability, and health and safety.