Odgers Berndtson is pleased to present our first 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 Berndtson is one of only 6,158 companies globally to have set target under the initiative and only one of 3,482 global firms / organisations with a net zero by 2050 commitment (source SBTi). Odgers Berndtson are the first global executive search firm to have received accreditation for our science-based carbon targets.
Our targets
Odgers Berndtson has committed to reduce its Scope 1 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.
Odgers Berndtson has committed to reduce its Scope 3 GHG emissions by 28% by 2030.
What initiatives have we put in place this year to work towards our targets?
- The UK firm, which makes up approximately 40.03% (2023/24), 43.17% (2019) of the total emissions of the global group, as measured in 2019, switched to using electricity generated from carbon neutral sources in its London headquarters. This has eliminated the GHG emissions from the group’s largest office globally.
- Many of the group’s firms have cut their use of printing and photocopying, with an aim towards our offices being as paperless as possible. This both reduces energy uses by the printers as well as reducing demand for paper and the paper waste we create.
- Building upon this, we have worked to make our events more sustainable. This includes sourcing sustainable food options, using reusable name badges, and using QR codes rather than printed menus or guest lists.
- Across our global offices, we have been mindful of our energy usage and waste production in the refurbishments we’ve undertaking. Additionally, a building’s energy efficiency has been a key factor during office moves that have occurred this year.
- Finally, we have actively encouraged our colleagues to consider how they can commute more sustainably as this is factored into our calculations around our travel carbon footprint.
- We have expanded the recycling available in our London headquarters, having added dedicated glass recycling bins, and are currently working on installing compost bins.
Our progress so far
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 3 emissions
What plans do we have for the next twelve months to keep on track to achieve our targets?
After transitioning to using energy from entirely renewable sources at our headquarters in London, we have since committed to a renewable energy supplier for the next three years. Additionally, we have begun switching off the heating and lighting on multiple floors in this office for days when there are fewer people in the building, in order to conserve our energy usage.
The group is currently consulting on the implementation of a group wide travel policy, to encourage greater intentionality around when and how to travel. Travel is one of the largest parts of our carbon footprint currently, so implementing these changes should have a substantial impact on GHG emissions.
We are in the process of creating a sustainable procurement policy, to create guidelines for our purchasing of goods and services globally and ensure we are considering the carbon footprint of the things we procure.
Finally, we are considering our global digital carbon footprint and how we can encourage our colleagues globally to work in ways that are less energy intensive.
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.
Against the base year of 2019 the group saw a reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions of (Global reduction) 15.06%, (UK reduction) 64.77% and a reduction in Scope 3 emissions of (Global reduction) 3.03%, (UK reduction) 4.31%.
Odgers Berndtson 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.
Odgers Berndtson Net Zero target date.