As part of our contribution to the ambitions of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement we remain committed to our target of becoming climate neutral across our global operations by 2050. As such, we aim to further reduce emissions and drive our competitive advantage through our ability to offer accessible, low-carbon solutions to our clients.
Road to net-zero
The rate at which we move towards our emission-reduction targets is a function of the opportunities and technology available to different parts of the company. Some aspects of our business are already achieving substantial reductions in their emissions, while other parts will take longer to do so since they are dependent on technology and infrastructure that is currently still being developed.
Those parts of the company that are onshore – our offices and warehouses, lease car fleet and dry earthmoving equipment – offer the greatest potential for near term emission reductions and we have implemented a number of significant carbon-reduction measures over the last few years. The largest part of our CO2 footprint is linked to our vessels, an area where substantial reductions in emissions are dictated by the availability of suitable alternatives to fossil fuels and the global infrastructure to support clean sources of energy. Our influence here is indirect and we are dependent upon the progress achieved by third parties.
Commercial offerings
Wherever possible, we encourage our clients to adopt sustainable and low-carbon solutions to help reduce emissions. This is done in two principal ways: through the optimization of project designs to reduce energy, increase circularity and limit the consumption of materials; and by using low-carbon energy sources such as biofuels or (renewable) electricity to power our vessels and dry earthmoving equipment.
Onshore operations
All of our dry earthmoving trucks in the Netherlands run on pure biofuel where it is available, resulting in annual reductions in CO2 emissions of nearly 55% across the entire fleet compared to using fossil fuels. Meanwhile, we have invested in a range of electrical and low-emission equipment in support of our ambitions for all onshore construction projects in the Netherlands to become climate-neutral by 2030.
Over the last few years we have taken numerous steps to further reduce the carbon footprint across our offices and warehouses. We have installed solar panels at a number of our premises in the Netherlands and abroad, including our Papendrecht headquarters, which together generate more than three million kilowatt hours of green electricity each year. Our distribution center in Vlaardingen holds an energy label A+++ and is CO2 negative. More recently, we installed a total of 820 panels on the roof of our office in Singapore, which provide for approximately 60% of the building’s total electricity usage.
Our fleet
In recent years we have devised and adopted a range of measures and new technologies to drive down fuel consumption and reduce emissions from our fleet. Meanwhile we collaborate extensively with our industry peers in the development of the expertise and technology necessary for the sector to complete its energy transition.
We are currently enacting our plans to retrofit numerous vessels within our offshore fleet through Energy Storage Systems, or ‘power packs’. These conversions will reduce the vessels’ fuel consumption and associated carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by an average of up to 20% during DP operations. The systems also provide a power supply and energy storage facility while the vessels are docked and contribute to quieter and more efficient operations offshore. Other measures to reduce emissions within our fleet include the development of dashboards onboard, as well as remotely, which improve awareness of operational efficiencies among crew members and help them to conserve fuel. Where possible we continue to use ‘light’, drop-in biofuels – blends of biofuel and marine gas oil – in our vessels which reduce carbon emissions by up to 90% when using a pure biofuel blend. For further information please refer to our latest Sustainability Report.
