Global emissions must fall by 7.6% every year from now until 2030 to stay within the 1.5°C ceiling on temperature rises that scientists say is necessary to avoid disastrous consequences. One of Data Respons’ core values is to take responsibility, and we acknowledge that slowing down climate change is one of the greatest challenges we need to take on in our time.
That’s why we are publicly committed to become carbon neutral by 2025. For our operation it means cutting 9 303 tonnes of carbon emissions.
In order to be a positive factor in the fight against climate change, we are reducing our own emissions and we are focusing on developing technology that matters to the planet. We have set the target to become carbon neutral by 2025. To succeed Data Respons needs to reduce its emissions throughout the entire value chain. We also need to start understanding how much carbon we actually are responsible for emitting.
We want to be part of the group of companies that define and shape the gold standard when it comes to fighting climate change, combining business and social considerations and ensure complete trust in our operations through transparent and professional governance – Data Respons CEO, Kenneth Ragnvaldsen, ESG Report 2019
To find out just how much carbon (CO2 equivalents 1) Data Respons emit a year we asked Endrava, a climate and energy specialised consultancy, to help us estimate the amount of our greenhouse gas emissions.
Our operation is international, but not very infrastructure or resource demanding. Hence, our framework for emissions mapping is based on calculations of emissions from energy consumption, transportation of people, transportation of goods, and IT equipment.
We found that in 2019 the Data Respons Group were responsible for a total of 9 303 tons of CO2 Equivalents – the same as 930 Norwegians, or 4 652 cars per year.
The by far biggest emission point is production of technology, which Data Respons has located in Taiwan. Production is ordered exclusively for Data Respons Solutions’ customers. In 2020 we saw that 70% of our group’s emissions are in this category.
The second biggest source of emission is transportation and distribution of technology products from Taiwan to Europe, and distribution within Europe. These emissions are also exclusively for Data Respons Solutions’ customers and represents 11.3 % of our group’s emissions. Both production and transportation or distribution of own products are the two biggest emission segments. This is linked to Data Respons Solutions and represent 80% of our total emissions.
Business travel equals 5,2% of our total emissions. We have implemented in our sustainability strategy, that all domestic flights shall be reconsidered if absolutely necessary. If it’s possible to take meeting digitally, this solution shall be preferred. Necessary flights shall be carbon-offset. This should always be the last option when a flight really cannot be avoided. Further, we request an individual travel policy in every daughter company.
Besides production and transportation of technology, emissions from employees travelling to and from the workplace (by own fossil fuel-based or diesel cars), as well as company vehicles are a major part and stand for 7.3 % of the total emissions. When it comes to commuting, we see that the differences in geography and other work conditions are reflected in the employee’s carbon footprints. In Germany for instance many employees live far from the offices and the public transportation offer is not as good as in the cities. Also, the number of electric cars is lower leading to higher emission number from commuting.
We expect increased environmental awareness and focus will help our company accomplish the first steps towards carbon neutrality. However, we acknowledge that after the low hanging fruits, such as reducing air travel, have been accomplished we must work with new technological solutions to continue the journey towards becoming carbon neutral.
We need to get all our customers, suppliers and employees on board with our carbon neutral ambition, which is both a cultural and technical challenge.
And, in order to uphold our ambition, we are open to neutralising some emissions through buying UN certified carbon credits, after all other measures have been implemented. Carbon credits are a practical and effective way to address climate change and encourage the growth of renewable energy. Our investments in carbon credits will help fund new projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution and increases the cost of polluting by reducing the number for available carbon credits.
We strongly believe that technology is an enabler for green growth. According to Fortune Business Insight[1], the global green technology and sustainability market is projected to grow from USD 11.43 billion in 2021 to USD 41.62 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 20.3%. In other words, there are huge opportunities within innovative environmental and advanced technologies that enable organisations to unlock more value from their energy resources and improve efficiency.
To take an active part in accelerating sustainability through technology, Data Respons set a goal of being involved in at least 100 sustainable technology projects in 2020. Each one of these projects had to contribute to reaching one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Read about some of these projects here.
As a company we depend on new technology to help us become carbon neutral, and hopefully our own specialists and solutions will play key roles in developing that technology. Making it easier for every company to pursue value creation and sustainability at the same time.
[1] https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/green-technology-and-sustainability-market-102221
Data Respons joined Carbon Neutral Now in 2020 as one of our initiatives on our road to becoming carbon neutral by 2025.
Climate Neutral Now was launched in 2015 by the UN, with the goal of encouraging and supporting all levels of society to take climate action to achieve a climate neutral (net zero) world by midcentury, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement adopted the same year.
