Measuring progress
Progress on embedding sustainability by design is being measured and audited. Grontmij has earned both ISO-9001 and 14001 (the environmental equivalent of the ISO quality certification on how a product is produced). Both are audited regularly for ongoing certification. We are in the process of adjusting our ISO reporting criteria on each of our operating areas to reflect sustainability by design. This has already been achieved in Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The goals set for 2011 are to ensure the embedding of these criteria throughout the Group and to strengthen information exchange networks. We are already working closely with Ginger that was acquired in 2010 to share sustainability strategies.

What is our own footprint?
The majority of Grontmij’s own work is done in offices or on site. We travel a lot. But because much of our business is local, the number of kilometres flown and driven is comparatively small for an organisation of our size and worldwide geographic spread. As we aim to ‘lead the industry’, it is appropriate that our own CSR footprint performance is leading and therefore challenging.

We have defined targets for:

• energy use, both direct (e.g. natural gas) and indirect (i.e. electricity);
• take-up of renewable energy;
• transportation (i.e. CO2 emissions from transport);
• CO2 emissions (including carbon neutrality); and
• waste to landfill.

How we measure our footprint
From 2008, Grontmij has measured and published its environmental impact and footprint according to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI, see www.globalreporting.org). GRI has created and continually improves this voluntary reporting framework. It has various levels and indicators. In 2008, we reported against ten indicators.

Now, we report on 30 key indicators of environmental performance. It was decided to report this year’s CSR performance as a self-certified B+ standard within the GRI framework. The table shows our key environmental indicators for 2010. The full GRI report showing all of the GRI indicators we have selected can be found on our website www.grontmij.com.

In 2010, we extended our environmental reporting by becoming signatories to the carbon disclosure project, the international benchmark for reporting greenhouse gas emission inventories (www.cdproject.net). An independent review of our reporting showed that we achieved a score of 76% against a basket of indicators compared with our sector average of 48%.

GRI Standard Disclosures - key environmental performance indicators 2010

Average direct energy consumption per head

EN3 Direct energy consumption

This indicator presents our direct use of energy sources such as natural gas as a source of office heating. The data reported are the average amounts of direct energy used per head in KWh in 2010 for our fulltime equivalent staff.

      

       
Average indirect energy consumption per head                                                  

EN4 Indirect energy consumption

This indicator presents our indirect use of energy sources such as the use of electricity or district heating. The data reported are the average amounts of indirect energy used per head in kWh in 2010 for our fulltime equivalent staff.


Average water use per head

EN8 Water use

This indicator shows our use of water both for
consumption and sanitation. All sources are
from public supplies. The data reported are the
average amounts of water used per head in m3
in 2010 for our fulltime equivalent.



Average CO2 emissions per head

EN16 Total greenhouse emissions

Our reported data are comprised of emissions of CO2 related to the three scopes of the GHG reporting protocols: direct energy; indirect energy and other sources such as transportation. The data reported are the average emissions of CO2 in tonnes per head in 2010 for our fulltime equivalent staff.



Average distance travelled by car per head

EN29 Environmental impacts of transportation

The environmental impact of transportation
in Grontmij relates primarily to the use of vehicles for moving people and some equipment between our offices and other operational sites. For our 2010 report we have
reported the average kilometres driven per head for our fulltime equivalent staff.