Our main programmes and initiatives in the Environmental dimension

Global programmes and initiatives

Making a difference through CO₂ emission reduction  Since 2010, environmental conscious management, subsequent monitoring and reduction is carried out in the areas of:

1. Electrical energy consumption
2. Mobility: company car mileages and air miles flown
3. Office supply: paper and toner consumption
4. Office equipment: computers bought and replaced

in our 11 largest markets (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain, UK & Ireland, US) including the joint global & Adecco Switzerland headquarters. These countries represent over 86% of our business operations in terms of revenues. In the past two years, we have made the following steps:

1. Identified our Carbon Footprint in 12 major countries including global HQ
2. Used the data for all stakeholder enquiries
3. Started reducing our CO₂ emission through targeted projects
4. Communicated about it accordingly to all stakeholders.

In addition, in 2012, the Adecco Group set an emission reduction target of 12% by 2022 and we expect to reach this goal through concrete action points. For the measurement and calculation of our data according to Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, we use a customised platform called “myclimate”.

With our business activities as a service provider, our action points include:

• decreasing our use of electricity and fossil energy
• decreasing the amount of CO₂ emissions through the reduction of air miles flown
• increasing the number of environmentally friendly cars in our fleets or decreasing car usage
• decreasing the amount of paper used and increasing the use of electronic documents
• increasing the proportion of environmentally friendly paper where paper is needed
• encouraging the re-use and recycling of paper
• encouraging the use and recycling of other recyclable products such as toners, cardboard, PET containers
• encouraging our Business Units to incorporate environmental considerations into the procurement of goods and services.

The Adecco Group expects that improving its environmental performance will impact the following:

1. Our CO₂ footprint on the environment
2. Financial performance
3. Being a credible company for investors and analysts
4. Being a trustworthy partner and employer to our clients, associates/candidates and employees

Newly issued Environmental Guidelines  Together with this report, we have also published Environmental Guidelines which build on and replace our 2007 Environmental Policy. We are conscious of the impact of our operations on the environment and of the difference we can make by acting responsibly. Our environmental commitments and progress are reported annually in the Adecco Group’s CSR Report and CoP as well as through our participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and the RobecoSAM’s Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.
View our Environmental Guidelines

Global performance indicators

Select country programmes and initiatives

Adecco Groupe France – Operation ’Spring Up’ and ’Covoiturage’  In 2012, Adecco in France introduced ’Spring Up’, an operation which collected 65 tons of IT and electronic material which was either damaged or no longer used.
Adecco worked with a company who employs people at risk of exclusion to collect the material. Following the collection process, the material was delivered to an international association ‘Close the Gap’ where it was recycled for use in developing countries.
Read more in their CSR Report 2011/2012

Every day, Adecco Groupe France makes contact with thousands of candidates and clients all over France which requires a lot of travelling, much of it by car. To minimise their emissions, Adecco Groupe France has put in place a service called ’Covoiturage’ or car-pooling for its employees. The dedicated website gives employees the chance to share cars and find potential passengers. In addition, whenever possible, Adecco encourages its employees to use public transport and is replacing its car fleet with models with a CO₂ figure of less than 200 g.
Read more

Adecco Brazil is saving trees  Using paper in daily operations can have a major environmental and economic impact.
Adecco Brazil has calculated that its headquarters uses the equivalent of 54 trees per year. The goal has been set to reduce paper consumption from 9 boxes or 90,000 sheets per month to 7 boxes or 70,000 sheets which would account for a 22% reduction on a yearly basis.

Norway Sweden and Spain all are ISO 14001 certified  So far, Adecco in Norway, Sweden and Spain have been ISO 14001 certified. The ISO 14000 family addresses various aspects of environmental management and provides practical tools for companies and organisations looking to identify and control their environmental impact and constantly improve their environmental performance.