Sustainability Report 2025
Odgers is pleased to present our annual sustainability report. We are committed to our science-based targets and are delighted to report on the progress we have made thus far.
What is the Science Based Targets initiative?
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a corporate climate action organisation that enables companies and financial institutions worldwide to play their part in combating the climate crisis. They develop standards, tools and guidance which allow companies to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets in line with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050 at latest. The SBTi is incorporated as a charity.
Per the SBTi, Odgers is one of only 9,245 companies globally to have set science-based targets under the initiative. Odgers were the first global executive search firm to have received accreditation for our science-based carbon targets.
Our targets
Scope 1&2
50%
Odgers has committed to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.
Odgers has committed to reduce its Scope 3 GHG emissions by 28% by 2030.
Scope 3
28%
What initiatives have we put in place this year to work towards our targets?
- In January 2025 we implemented a Sustainable Travel Policy across the UK. This was a year in the making, with many of colleagues across the business being consulted as to how we find the balance between business needs and our commitment to caring for our planet. Business travel continues to be the biggest part of our carbon footprint, so it’s a really important area for us to continue addressing as we work towards meeting our 2030 goal.
- Additionally, we launched a new Sustainable Procurement Policy in the summer of 2025, as our procured goods and services is the second biggest contributor to our Scope 3 emissions. The purpose of this policy is to create guidance around making more sustainable choices in the myriad of items we buy as a business.
- Food compost bins have been installed on every floor across our headquarters in London, further enabling us to sustainably manage the waste we produce as a business.
- Some of our UK regional offices moved buildings in the autumn of 2024, and the energy rating and overall sustainability of the newly leased buildings was an important factor in the decision-making process.
- This is all on top of the work we’re doing to continue to build our track record in sustainability placements, whether that’s through working with clients whose work focuses on sustainability, by placing candidates into sustainability-focused roles, or ensuring that sustainability-minded leaders are being placed in key positions where they can have a positive impact
Our progress so far
2024/25
Scope 1&2
21%
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 3 emissions
Scope 3
27%
2023/24
Scope 1&2
15%
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 3 emissions
Scope 3
3%
What plans do we have for the next twelve months to keep on track to achieve our targets?
- As an international business, we plan to continue growing our overall cohesion around our approach to sustainability, whilst still respecting the practical and cultural differences between each of our offices. This includes global guidance around travel, both for ourselves and our candidates – many of whom travel internationally as part of our processes for global leadership roles.
- We are working towards making our annual International Partners Meeting more sustainable. This includes factoring sustainability into the choice of venues/hotels and in how people travel both to the location and once they are at the Meeting. The IPM also allows us to have one focal point for international business meetings that would otherwise require a higher level of travel throughout the year.
- Finally, we are continuing to work on transitioning our car fleet in Germany to electric vehicles, as this is a key part of reaching our carbon target goals.
Our sustainability journey
Reduction base year.
We submitted a letter to the SBTi establishing our intent to set a science based target for the reduction in our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
We worked with Carbon Intelligence, a UK based consultancy now part of Accenture, to develop an emissions reduction target suitable for our global business, in line with SBTi’s criteria.
In early 2023 the group presented its targets to the SBTi for official validation and in the summer of that year it received its accreditation. Details can be found on the SBTi’s dashboard contained on its website.
Odgers has committed to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030. It has further committed to reduce its Scope 3 GHG emissions by 28% within the same timeframe.