Ensuring Sustainable Operations  

 

We have a longstanding commitment to sustainable operations and take a responsible approach to reducing our direct and indirect environmental impacts.

Our Journey to Net Zero

 

Our commitment to becoming carbon neutral.

 

Computacenter has a longstanding commitment to sustainable operations, and we take a responsible approach to reducing our direct and indirect environmental impacts. We became carbon neutral for Scopes 1 & 2 emissions at the end of 2022. This has been achieved through increasing our own renewable energy generation and the proportion of energy we purchase from renewable sources, continued investment in energy-efficient lighting and equipment, and the purchase of carbon offsetting credits using Gold Standard offsetting schemes.


The Board has agreed a target of being Net Zero for Scope 3 emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of our previous target. Scope 3 emissions include all other indirect emissions including our business travel and transportation as well as those from sources that we do not own or directly control including our supply chain.

 

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energy

Energy Usage

 

Securing energy from renewable sources both on and off-site.

 

In 2022, 78% of the Group’s electricity usage came from renewable sources. Across our office locations and Integration Centers, we have implemented measures to reduce the energy consumed without impacting our operations.

 

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Materials

 

Reducing single-use consumables and sourcing responsibly across the Group.

 

Packaging materials

 

We are taking an increased interest in reducing the packaging that is supplied with customer purchases, particularly single use plastics. Some manufacturers are already supplying more cardboard-based internal packaging and have significantly reduced their plastic content and are looking to remove it completely in the next few years. We have further improved our recycling channels and nearly all plastic bags are now either retained to be re-used or separated and collected for dedicated plastics recycling. We regularly hold discussions with our vendors about their use of packaging materials, to encourage them to reduce the volume of packaging, and to substitute materials for those which can be reused or more easily recycled.

 

e-invoicing

 

We send around 100,000 sales invoices each month. Our investment in IT tools and programmes in recent years mean that, for example, in excess of 90% of UK invoices are now sent electronically, which reduces costs and our environmental impact. The implementation of an e-invoicing system in Germany is now in full effect, with the result that approx. 88% of invoices in Germany are sent electronically.

 

Removal of pre-printed stationery

 

We have largely removed pre-printed stationery across our offices and continue to work to minimise the need for printed documents, supported by our investments in systems and collaboration tools.

 

Single-use plastics

 

Having already eliminated single-use items such as plastic cups and bottles at Hatfield and Kerpen in 2020, we have continued to prevent similar usage at our other major sites in 2021. As a result, we are substantially eliminating the use of these items in other locations across the Group.

 

Waste diverted from landfill

 

We look to send as little waste as possible to landfill and closely monitor recycling performance for materials such as plastics, paper, and cardboard.

 

Packaging Waste Regulation

 

Computacenter UK is registered as a distributor of product via the compliance company Paperpak, ensuring we have fully complied with this regulation since 2000.

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Travel

 

Changing the ways in which we travel for a more sustainable future.

 

An important part of Computacenter’s business involves the physical connection between our talent, customers, and extensive vendor network. Whilst we have learnt new ways of working and minimised our reliance on carbon-intensive travel, there are many occasions where we still need to get people to and from different locations. In addition to reducing our travel, we’re changing how we do it too, and where needed, levy and offset our collective impact.

 

Curbing Carbon

 

We have a target to reduce emissions from business travel by up to 35% by 2025, compared to the baseline in 2019. While the target remains challenging to achieve given the Group’s growth, we continued to progress towards it in 2022, achieving a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from flights and hotel rooms compared to the 2019 baseline.

 

We are continuing to reduce our carbon emissions by changing work patterns and policies such as:

 

  • Prioritising low-carbon methods of transport including lower-impact rail
  • Eliminating feeder flights in key geographies where alternatives exist
  • Investing in virtual meeting technology to reduce travel demand
  • CO2e visibility within booking portal to inform better travel decision making
  • Internal management review processes to mitigate avoidable trips
  • The encouragement of multi-purpose trips to maximise business output per tCO2e
  • Electrifying our vehicle fleet and capping emissions on company cars

 

Trip Levies

 

Computacenter has introduced a single fee levied across all business trips that include air and/or hotel bookings. This revenue will be allocated to projects that reduce CO2e. Trip levies provide both financial and carbon-based accountability when deciding how to move responsibly around the world.

Logistics

 

Building transport relationships that don't cost the earth

 

We’re proud to work with some of the world’s most innovative logistics companies, as a supplier in helping to automate and streamline their operations, and a customer as the recipient of delivery services. Our partnerships are founded on a mutual understanding for reducing our footprint where possible at every step of the logistics process.

 

Preferencing couriers with PEV (Plug-In Electric Vehicle) fleets is one of the ways we are reducing tailpipe emissions for device deliveries. Pickup and deliveries account for the most emissions generated from any one shipment which is why our focus remains on what happens at either end of the shipment. Streamlining deliveries by either centralising, or decentralising distribution have also played a role in reducing the travel footprint of the goods we buy and sell. With our strategically located Integration Centers in key geographies, we’re able to leverage our capabilities in these markets to dispatch goods in through the most efficient channels possible.

 

Computacenter’s own fleet of vehicles is helping to lower carbon emissions across the business. Our increasing PEV share of our fleet, investment in electric vehicle charging points, and self-generated electricity are some of the practical ways we are using our infrastructure to reduce our environmental toll.

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Supply Chain

 

Shared values within a complex supply chain

 

Computacenter works with a diverse set of suppliers, many of whom play a key part in the success of our business. Maintaining a reliable, resilient supply chain that understands how we work and aligns with our sustainability goals is of paramount importance - not just to us, but to our customers too.

 

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Further reading