Sourcing materials and components from local suppliers reduces the amount of transportation needed, which sometimes accounts for a major share of companies' overall negative environmental impact
CO2 emissions occur not only in the upstream supply chain but also downstream, such as during the use phase of a product. Companies impact scope 3 emissions by offering consumers incentives to charge electric vehicles with renewable energy, for example
Companies reduce emissions across their entire supply chain (Tier 1-n) through close collaboration with their entire supply base. Initiatives can range from creating monetary incentives for reducing CO2 to sharing best practices. CO2 reduction in the supply chain is necessary in order to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Firms increase their use of renewable energy for electricity, heat and so on both through their own actions and by choosing suitable energy suppliers
The R&D departments of companies identify options for cutting waste and reusing materials, components and products during the development phase
Using recycled materials avoids further exploitation of raw materials and is the first step towards creating a circular economy
Cancelling most business trips and investing in state-of-the-art virtual meeting and video conferencing technology promotes sustainability. Where business trips are unavoidable, organizations select the most eco-friendly means of travel
Companies lower their scope 1 emissions (all direct emissions, such as fuel combustion on site, fleet vehicles) and scope 2 emissions (all indirect emissions from electricity purchased) through actions such as reducing usage (driving fewer miles) or upgrading technology (installing LED lights, insulating buildings better)
To become CO2-neutral or, more broadly, greenhouse gas-neutral, companies compensate for their emissions by means of activities such as reforestation, either carrying out these activities themselves or paying specialized institutions to do so on their behalf
Circularity – the idea of consistently avoiding waste and striving for re-use – is particularly hard to achieve for complex products, where it requires longer lead times and development cycles
Firms are responsible for making sure that their waste is treated properly, especially if it is hazardous. Concepts for tracking and tracing waste paths can compel them to comply and identify any infringements
Zero waste involves the avoidance of all waste in all areas, including scrap from direct material, waste from office buildings and any waste produced along the value chain
For some applications, 3D printing can be an effective way to avoid emissions, reduce energy consumption and cut waste in the areas of production and logistics. Ideally, companies should print products near to where the customer is
Companies use a smartphone app to track the environmental footprint of employees, departments or the entire organization
Rare earth metals are used in many of today's products and applications, from smart phones to wind power. However, they have a significant negative impact on the environment. Research is needed on replacing these elements with materials that have a less negative impact
Noise and light pollute the environment and disturb humans, animals and nature. Eliminating all negative impact along the entire value chain is a crucial step, particularly in protected areas
Businesses aim for a fully CO2-neutral supply chain, from upstream Tier-x suppliers to consumers (the usage phase)
Companies replace all business-related travel by using avatars and other advanced forms of virtual collaboration
A closed loop involves the full application of a circular economy across the entire company and its value chain.
All the freshwater needed for a firm's operations, both production and administration, is created as part of a self-sufficient cycle without any input of freshwater from the outside
Zero pollution involves the complete elimination of pollution from all of a company's operations, right all along the value chain
Companies incorporate a strategy ensuring biodiversity in all the areas where the company has an impact
These factories require no energy or other inputs from the outside world
This entails capturing or compensating for more CO2 than is emitted – for example, to compensate retrospectively for all the emissions made by a firm since its foundation
These are products that absorb greenhouse gases emissions or other environmental pollutants and have a negative footprint. In some cases, they can even be used to generate energy for the company's own consumption
Companies ensure that people of different genders are treated fairly and have equal opportunities in the workplace
Processes are implemented and monitory systems put in place that ensure that neither the company nor its suppliers use child or forced labor
Respect for animal welfare is based on the belief that non-human animals are sentient and so consideration should be given to their wellbeing. This can affect how animals are slaughtered for food, how they are used in scientific research, how they are kept (as pets, in zoos, farms, circuses, and so on) and how human activities impact on the welfare and survival of wild species
Companies introduce programs and activities promoting awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, attracting members said community to work for the company and supporting them in the workplace
Special programs allow employees to rotate between functions, departments or locations, potentially worldwide. The aim is to create a more enriching work environment, build networks and ensure a broader perspective within the company
Companies define and implement gender quotas for all management levels and for the workforce as a whole
Diversity is expanded beyond gender and sexual orientation to include ethnicity, age, educational background, physical ability, and so on
Firms ensure full adherence to human rights, including within their supply chains. This includes no child labor, freedom of opinion, no discrimination, fair wages, and so on
Voluntelling" in the corporate context means instructing employees to support charity activities inside or outside the firm, for example for a set number of paid days per employee per year
This is a program enabling retired employees to contribute their knowledge on a part-time basis
Quotas are defined at top management and other management levels to ensure diversity with regard to gender or ethnicity
The recruitment process favors candidates who have been involved in sustainability-related activities, such as volunteering for an NGO during their studies
The company donates a certain share of its products to underprivileged groups. This also includes B2B donations
Bonuses are linked to a scorecard for ESG criteria, rewarding CO2-neutral travel, for example
Employees can work for NGOs on a temporary basis under a special program
Any donations made by employees are matched by the company
Companies reduce waste by offering lifetime guarantees on their products leveraging blockchain technology
Employees track their own sustainability score using an app. The app recommends how they can change their behavior in order to improve their score
The company ensures that human rights are fully respected across its entire supply chain, including all tiers of suppliers. This includes areas such as child labor, freedom of opinion, discrimination and fair wages
Companies report publicly, in detail, on any lobbying activities that they carry out, such as making donations and meeting politicians
A "sustainability board" is established within the organization, with veto rights for major decisions
Companies are obliged to report publicly on their ESG status and performance in a standardized manner
Organizations used blockchain technology to track ESG criteria within their supply chains
A robust whistleblower system, potentially supplied by an external provider, enables anonymous reporting of any non-compliance with legislation
Companies select suppliers on the basis of their ESG rating, in particular integrating "knock-out" criteria and thresholds in their selection procedures
Lobbying activities are reduced to a minimum and full transparency is ensured
Companies take their business ethics and code of conduct to the next level by setting even higher and more transparent standards. They may combine this with a transparent enforcement and sanctioning system
Annual auditing of a firm's sustainability achievements by an impartial, external service provider. Results are communicated internally and externally
The firms ensures that its supervisory board is truly independent from its management board
Companies communicate publicly about any fraud or other incidents within the supply chain, outlining what actions they are taking to remedy them
Fair salaries are paid in all of the company's global locations. This includes equal pay, wages that enable employees to stay above the poverty line, and fair salary levels across different levels of the hierarchy – for example, a fixed ratio between the CEO salary and the average or entry-level salary
Setting a maximum tenure for board members ensures that the supervisory function is executed properly
One seat on the supervisory board is reserved for a representative of an NGO
Any major internal incidents are reported to the public, including environmental incidents and breaches of the code of conduct
Rules are in place to ensure that the needs and opinions of minority groups are properly represented in decision-making
Sustainable behavior is rewarded based on transparent criteria. The organization ensures transparency by tracking everyone via an app
Companies give a artificial intelligence (AI) a vote in all management decisions. This "planet AI" is programmed to represent the needs of planet Earth