How we work with ESG
What is ESG?
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) covers actions and policies adopted in support of responsible corporate behaviour. By measuring and improving our own ESG performance, we ensure our business practices are in line with Ramboll s values and commitments to clients, company, people, and society.
Good ESG management indicates a maturation of business practices, which translates to better risk management
Our approach
Ramboll has global experience from several decades of assisting clients in meeting their ESG ambitions. Our offering spans ESG strategy development and management systems, climate risk and resilience, health and safety, ESG performance and reporting, due diligence and post acquisition integration, with strongholds in life cycle assessments (LCA), sustainability strategy and management, and impact assessments.
We apply the same knowledge and insights to our own operations:
EcoVadis: working with supplier compliance
EcoVadis offers independent sustainability assessments of companies global supply chains. This assessment reflects a company s sustainability performance and identifies actions for improvement by reviewing policies, actions, and published reporting related to the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
To ensure our suppliers comply with high ethical and environmental standards, we ask all suppliers to sign our business associate code, which is centred on internationally recognised standards such as UN Global Compact. We are working on a responsible procurement management system which also includes engaging with our suppliers on signing up to science based targets.
Ramboll Group is awarded a gold medal as recognition of our EcoVadis ESG rating, as of February 2024. Ramboll has reported at Group level since 2020.
Progressing action on the SDGs
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were globally adopted in 2015. The 17 Global Goals outline globally agreed pathways to sustainable development and call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
As acknowledged by the UN, the private sector has a critical role to play in advancing the global development agenda. Ramboll contributes positively to the SDGs through our projects and own operations. Our cross organisational strategic focus is on SDG 13 Climate Action.
Ramboll has developed a methodology to align our portfolio and measure share of revenue that positively contributes to the SDGs. Going forwards, and as part of our strategy for 2022 2025, we will measure our sustainable revenue in accordance with the EU Taxonomy to align with the commonly agreed international framework for how to classify and measure, sustainable revenue, and thereby replace our previous SDG methodology.
In 2020, the SDG related revenue reached 62%, outperforming our target of 40%. The SDGs were a powerful yardstick by which to identify, document and communicate our sustainable business.
From SDG benchmarking to SBTi: how we report on climate progress
There are several voluntary schemes for companies to take climate action. However, one drawback is that they lack clearly defined targets and metrics that are rooted in climate science. This increases the risk that actions fall short of the 1.5 C pathway, as laid out in the Paris Agreement.
To avoid greenwashing and ensure sufficient ambitions in the fight against climate change, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has emerged as the best, internationally recognised standard for corporate climate action.
Ramboll has set ambitious targets to reduce our own emissions, and these have been approved by SBTi as being in line with the 1.5°C pathway.
Explore our financial and sustainability performance
We are investing in our ability to collect accurate emissions data. 2021 is the first year we measure our carbon footprint according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and SBTi. In 2022, we will for the first time report our carbon emissions data through the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP).
We report on our progress on an annual basis and make it public through our Annual Report. The report including sustainability data is externally assured.