Moving towards net-zero

Transtrend is committed to proactively contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement. We aim to reduce the carbon footprint of our operation, moving closer towards net-zero carbon emission in our workplaces in the coming years. To achieve this, we follow a three-step approach:

Some measures to reduce the environmental footprint of Transtrend have already been in place for many years. Movement sensors turn off the lights in parts of the office where no one is working. Many employees come to the office by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Obsolete computers are donated to schools or other civic organizations. We use reusable modular wall systems, cupboards and furniture in the office layout where possible. Paper and cardboard are collected separately from the other trash. And although we are admittedly not a paperless office, many initiatives proposed by employees have helped to significantly reduce our paper consumption over the years.

In the last few years, we completed our switch to LED lights, increased our focus on the economic use of energy by our server rooms, and increased the use of video conferencing as an alternative to business travel. The servers from our backup location were relocated to an external data center, which has increased our power efficiency.

Green electricity powers both our Rotterdam offices and our backup location. Our external data center also uses green electricity.

We offset our indirect carbon emission through air travel since 2018. As of 2021, we also offset the carbon footprint for various other sources related to our operations: the use of company cars, the use of electricity, water, paper and heating, and the waste generated in our offices. In 2021, we furthermore included the estimated carbon footprint of electricity used by our employees during their work-from-home days. It is our ambition to further expand and refine the measuring of our carbon footprint and reporting thereon in the coming years. Also, we will monitor the debate on the effectiveness of carbon offsetting initiatives to enhance our offsetting program where possible.

Further reduction of our carbon footprint remains on the agenda of a dedicated working group ‘Duurzaam Transtrend’, as new ideas or possibilities may develop, or existing ideas may become worthwhile to implement. The working group works closely with our ESG committee, consisting of one of our two Managing Directors and five employees from different teams who prioritize, coordinate and monitor all ESG projects and initiatives — including footprint reduction related ones — across the firm, under the final responsibility of Transtrend’s Management Board.