Planet
WWT is committed to sustainability initiatives that address the daily impact our operations have on the environment. With a focus on climate, energy and waste reduction, water conservation and end-of-life product planning, we work to protect our planet while providing business value for our customers.
We are committed to investing in resources that promote the reduction of any negative impacts our industry has on the environment, including pollution prevention and the continual improvement of our overall environmental performance.
Environmental Impact Assessment
We continually work to assess our operations to identify ways we can make a positive impact on the environment. Today, we are focused on:
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste to landfill
Improving water conservation to mitigate any negative impact our global operations might have on the environment and local communities.
Initiatives
World Wide Technology has responded to the SBTi's urgent call for corporate climate action by committing to align with 1.5°C and net-zero through the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign. To reach this commitment, World Wide Technology has also committed to set near-term company-wide emission reductions in line with climate science with the SBTi
WWT hopes to achieve efficient energy management through:
- Improved energy efficiency at workplace
- Potential onsite power generation
- Procuring renewable energy to run its operational control locations
Additional information regarding these efforts can be found in our annual report submitted to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
Additional decisions and investments made to meet our energy conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction objective include:
- Continued investment in LED and motion detected lighting in our facilities.
- Improvements in the efficiency of ventilation and air conditioning equipment.
- Utilization of ENERGY STAR®-certified equipment in our facilities across the globe.
- Increased employee participation in telecommuting, and increased investment in teleconferencing facilities and equipment.
- Development of a program to work toward determination and reduction of the company's indirect/value chain GHG emissions (Scope 3 emissions) in 2022 and beyond.
- Installation of EV charging stations at our NAIC Building 2 and global headquarters.
DYK? In 2021, WWT has made investments to improve its energy efficiency at some of its Illinois facilities. Switching to smart energy fixtures has improved energy efficiency in the facilities and has resulted in annual savings of over $315,099 and has resulted in emission savings of 986 MT CO2e.
WWT has implemented cardboard, wood, plastics and single-stream recycling in our facilities worldwide and is committed to reducing solid waste that cannot be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
Solid Commercial Waste: WWT has established recycling in our facilities worldwide and is committed to reducing solid waste that cannot be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. WWT has set a 75% diversion of waste from landfill target by 2030.
Electronics or E-Waste: WWT repairs and reuses electronics internally when possible. When equipment reaches end of life, we use methods such as OEM take back/trade-in programs or environmentally sound disposal services to dispose of the equipment.
WEEE: World Wide Technology is committed to develop and participate in initiatives to correctly manage end-of-life products and materials when they become waste. Around the world, some countries have developed e-waste or WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment), battery, and packaging legislation to ensure that systems for collection, treatment and recycling of these materials are in place. World Wide Technology is committed to meeting the requirements of these laws. Please contact us for questions or more information at Ewaste@wwt.com. You can find producer registration numbers here.
Hazardous Materials and Waste: Though the handling of hazardous materials is not part of our normal operations, we take appropriate actions when needed to ensure hazardous materials are handled in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
DYK? The company experienced a slight increase in the amount of solid waste generation in 2018 and 2019 due to a series of operational expansions and moves but remains committed to reducing solid waste sent to landfill and strives for a 75 percent waste diversion goal by the year 2030.
Water use within WWT is primarily limited to cafeteria services, restrooms, and landscaping. We measure water consumption annually and are continually investigating opportunities for more sustainable water usage, such as landscaping controls and water-efficient plumbing fixtures. Although we do not utilize significant amounts of water, we identify the impact water scarcity has on local communities. We have set a water-neutral target for 2040 and hope to achieve this target through initiatives at a community level.
Plastic Fishing in Amsterdam
Teams joined forces to help make Amsterdam plastic-free with the first plastic fishing company in the world called Plastic Whale! WWT employees jumped onboard 3 Plastic Boats (each made from 3000 recycled plastic bottles) and went through the beautiful canals of Amsterdam fishing for plastic and other garbage.
Additional Performance Improvement Programs
WWT supports and participates in the following sustainability programs:
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
CDP is a not-for-profit charity running the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
GRI is an international independent standards organization that helps businesses, governments and other organizations understand and communicate their impacts on issues such as climate change, human rights and corruption.
Science-based targets
Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals.
Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was created in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to develop consistent climate related financial risk disclosures for use by companies, banks and investors in providing information to stakeholders.
SASB
SASB Standards guide the disclosure of financially material sustainability information by companies to their investors. Available for 77 industries, the Standards identify the subset of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues most relevant to financial performance in each industry.
EcoVadis
EcoVadis provides a holistic sustainability ratings service of companies. It covers a broad range of non-financial management systems, including environmental, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement impacts.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which set out a 15-year plan to achieve the Goal.
EPA SmartWay
EPA's SmartWay program helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking and improving freight transportation efficiency.
Ameren Missouri Demand Response
The program helps Ameren Missouri maintain reliable and efficient power availability during periods of high demand, and compensates customers based on the amount of capacity they are able to remove from the grid when needed.
Our team
Varchala Abrol
Vice President, Global ESG and EHS
Aneesh Kale
Global Environmental Sustainability Advisor
Emma Mundy
Global Environmental Compliance Specialist