Sustainability at Zühlke: our journey

We need to transform our economy and the way we do business to ensure the wellbeing of our planet and its inhabitants. To improve the lives of future generations, we use our expertise to help transform businesses and protect the planet by designing sustainable products and solutions.

When it comes to our own operations, we are on a continuous journey of improvement. That's why protecting the planet is one of our four impact pathways where we strive to make positive impact:

  • Transforming business: we help our clients innovate and transform to deliver positive change. 
  • Protecting the planet: together with clients and partners, we strive to make the world a better place. 
  • Empowering our people: we foster diverse thinking and belonging, enabling all colleagues to grow and thrive. 
  • Building communities: we invest in communities and help them flourish, guided by our shared values.
Our impact & commitments
Our Impact Pathways: empowering people, building communities, transforming business, protecting the planet

  • Our net-zero goals

    Improving the sustainability of our own operations is a key focus in our sustainability strategy. In 2022, we signed the UN Global Compact (UNGC) Business Ambition for 1.5°C Pledge, joining leading companies in pledging to do our part to keep global warming below 1.5° Celsius, in alignment with the Paris Agreement and the criteria and recommendations of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

    It is why we chose to set ourselves science based targets for carbon reduction, and we are proud to confirm that our targets have been validated and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Those targets include:

    • Overall net-zero target: Zühlke commits to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our value chain by 2040.
    • Near-term targets: Zühlke commits to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by 2030 from a 2021 base year. We also commit to reducing absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 42% within the same timeframe.
    • Long-term targets: Zühlke commits to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by 2030 from a 2021 base year. Zühlke also commits to reducing absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions 90% by 2040 from a 2021 base year. These measurable targets demonstrate our commitment to aligning our business practices with global sustainability goals by prioritising decarbonisation.

    We voluntarily report to the UN Global Compact EcoVadis, GRI, and CDP. Find attached our UK Carbon Reduction Plan. 

    UK Carbon Reduction Plan

  • Our emissions reduction activities

    At Zühlke, we focus first on reducing our emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3. Key carbon reduction initiatives include:

    • Renewable electricity: we continue to transition to renewable energy sources across our locations. Where we are not able to use renewable energy sources, we currently purchase renewable energy certificates.
    • Resource efficiency: we are evaluating our energy, water, and waste efficiency to understand where and how improvements can be made to reduce unnecessary or wasteful resource consumption. We promote responsible procurement and circular economy principles.
    • Responsible travel: We are moving away from petrol and diesel company vehicles to fully electric contracts by the end of 2024. We take a technology-first approach over face-to-face meetings and we encourage emission conscious travel wherever possible.

  • Funding climate mitigation projects

    To address our remaining emissions, we invest in projects that protect nature, and fund technologies that drive carbon reduction and remove emissions from the atmosphere. Find out more on the projects we have invested in with our carbon mitigation partner Furthr, here.

    Our partnership with Furthr

  • Environmental protection

    We recognise the importance of preserving and protecting our planet’s resources for present and future generation. Zühlke has adopted an Environmental Policy that guides our actions to conserve resources, reduce carbon emissions, and avoid waste.

    We also have an Environmental Management System certified according to ISO 14001:2015.

    Our environmental policy