CARE FOR THE PLANET
CO2 neutral.
The goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement is to ensure that the earth’s global warming is limited to 1.5 to 2.0 degrees Celsius. Pursuant to this agreement, EU member states have agreed to climate neutral by 2050. For the Netherlands, this means a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Governments and companies are conforming to this goal. Demcon is also making its contribution to this.
setting and quantifying targets.
To determine our CO2 targets, we used the Science Based Targets (SBT). The SBT are objectives that ultimately result in achieving the targets agreed upon under the Paris Agreement. They identify the annual targeted percentage reduction required for this purpose. This is presented graphically, so that at a single glance you can see whether you are on track. Our CO2 targets are based on the SBT and tailored to our way of working.
We calculate our CO2 emissions in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). The GHG Protocol divides the emissions into three scopes, depending on their origin:
- Scope 1:
All direct CO2 emissions from a company’s own business operations (generally measurable at the company’s business locations). For example, a company’s own gas consumption for cooling and heating buildings, business travel, etc. - Scope 2:
The indirect emissions from purchased energy (electricity and direct heat supply). Using an emission factor, the quantity of electricity can be expressed in CO2 equivalents. - Scope 3:
Other indirect emissions (generally not at the business locations themselves). For example, emissions within the chain, such as the use of purchased goods and services, wastewater, commuting and the transport of residual products.
2023 RESULTS
our current CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions (based on GHG Protocol):
- 1,826 metric tons – CO2 emissions (total of scope 1 and 2)
- 2.17 metric tons – CO2 emissions per FTE (total of scope 1 and 2)
- Total CO2 emissions by scope:
- Scope 1: 350 metric tons
- Scope 2: 1,476 metric tons
- Scope 3: 1,035 metric tons*
*We have divided scope 3 into scope 3a and 3b. Scope 3a concerns commuting traffic, business traffic with personal vehicles, business flights and (waste)water. The figure above pertains to scope 3a. Scope 3b concerns emissions in the chain. We do not have sufficient insight into this figure yet and will keep working on this in 2024. 2023 serves as the reference year for scope 3.
In 2023, our absolute CO2 emission increased as a result of our company’s growth. We did achieve a reduction of 4.63% CO2 emission per FTE for scope 1 + 2. This means we have only just fallen short of our target of 5% emission reduction per FTE. The primary reasons for this are:
- Overall gas usage at Demcon has gone down (partly due to Best Heat Pump)
- Overall electricity usage has gone up, despite lighting and heating policy (e.g. increased usage by our laboratory in Delft and MIM in DTC Enschede)
- More commuting traffic as people work from home less
- Demcon headquarters, Vliegveldstraat and Josink Esweg added as new locations
- More business flights.
2024 TARGETS
our aims for 2024.
We are going to focus on those elements that emit the most CO2: the energy used in our buildings and transportation. Our overall CO2 target for 2024:
- 5% reduction in our CO2 emissions per FTE (in accordance with scope 1 & 2 of the science-based targets)
- Mapping out emissions in the chain (scope 3)
We intend to achieve this target by initiating and implementing the following projects:
- Roadmap CO2 reduction (including scope 3b)
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- Transition to green electricity for energy contracts
- Implementation of a sustainable mobility policy through e.g.:
- Promoting the use of public-transport cards
- Further expanding the number of charging stations at Demcon locations
- Further stimulating employees to cycle to work
- Preparing for our reporting obligation in light of the CSRD
- Exploring the design of a management system.
OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS
mapping our carbon footprint.
We have identified the carbon footprint for scope 1 and 2 for Demcon’s largest locations. In this respect we reviewed our performance in terms of the energy consumed in our buildings, transportation, waste and water. Our next step is to include consumption in the chain (scope 3).