Global IT consultancy Capgemini unveils significant carbon footprint reduction

IT consultancy conglomerate Capgemini has reported significant progress with its science-based emissions reduction target, with output reduced by a total of 16% since 2014, and 10% in the last 12 months alone. 

The achievement means it is well placed to match or better its target to reduce it carbon footprint by 20% per employee by 2020 and 40% by 2030.

Of the 10% reduction achieved in 2016, the majority came from the consolidation of its data centres including the closure in late 2016 of the organisation’s of older, less efficient data centres.

This reduced Capgemini emissions by 2,077 tCO2e with its four remaining data centres also achieving a cumulative emissions reduction of 3,729 tCO2e.

The closure of the data centre and offices located in London Southbank was done without sending any waste to landfill. Just 11% of waste generated by Capgemini was sent to landfill in 2016, just fractionally more than the company’s longer-term target of 10%.

“We have been reducing our carbon emissions since 2008, and in 2016 became the first in our sector to commit to a verified Science Based Target, which will see us cut emissions by 20% by 2020,” said Dr James Robey, VP, Global Head of Corporate Sustainability.

“We are already making significant progress towards this target, with a 10% reduction in carbon emissions delivered in 2016. We continue with our net positive ambition to support our clients achieve their own carbon reduction aspirations.”

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The business is also working towards reduce three times as much carbon emissions in its ecosystem as it generate each year through its own operations.

The ‘Net Positive project’ aims to shift the role of companies in society, changing the focus from minimising negative impacts to defining new ways of doing business that put more into society, the environment and the global economy than they take out.

“Capgemini is particularly focused on the role technology can play in this transition,” it said in its half-year report.

As part of the effort, Capgemini is working with 15 client teams, across five business areas, it has developed a series of case studies, identifying how its services deliver environmental benefits.

In addition, the company has launched an enhanced supplier assessment tool, enabling it to engage suppliers and track their environmental impacts over time.

“In the next 12 months we will be reporting on our progress against our Net Positive target, providing insights into the environmental impacts of digital services and making a case for how we can maximise the positive impacts of technology,” it said.