Well-founded analyses and data-based decisions: this is not only at the heart of our consulting methodology, but also forms the basis for our own actions and the way we want to fulfill our social responsibility. That is why we have prepared a comprehensive carbon footprint analysis for the first time for the year 2024. It creates transparency about our carbon footprint and shows us specifically where the greatest levers for effective climate protection lie. After all, only those who know their sources of emissions precisely can reduce them in a targeted manner – and on a continuous basis.
Comprehensive accounting as a starting point
We used the ClimatePartner tool to prepare our carbon footprint and calculated it in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.1 The GHG Protocol requires all direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased energy (Scope 2) to be recorded. Accounting for Scope 3, i.e., all other indirect emissions, is optional. However, it was important to us to obtain as complete a picture as possible, because Scope 3 often accounts for the largest share in service companies. We included all data that could be recorded in the accounting. Comprehensive data collection was made possible by the support of the entire actori team.
The figures for 2024 at a glance
For 2024, our total emissions amount to around 100 tons of CO₂ (including a safety margin), which corresponds to approximately 3.7 tons per full-time equivalent. By far the largest share is accounted for by Scope 3 emissions, i.e., indirect emissions from business travel or employee commuting, for example. Air travel is the most relevant single factor and will therefore remain the central lever for reduction measures in the future.
It is difficult to find meaningful comparative figures in the consulting industry, and it is often unclear how comprehensively other companies report Scope 3 emissions. Although a comparison with individual companies shows that we are average, for us it is not the comparison with others that is decisive, but our own contribution: we want to continuously improve.
What are we already doing?
Our commitment to climate protection did not begin with the climate balance sheet. In recent years, we have already taken various measures to reduce our CO₂ emissions. In terms of air travel, the number of flights in 2024 was reduced by 38 percent compared to the previous year, we purchase green electricity, and we continuously raise awareness among our team about resource-saving behavior in everyday office life. Our employees' commutes also account for a significant portion of our emissions. With the Deutschlandticket, the BahnCard, and the Jobrad, we are creating offers that promote sustainable mobility. In addition, we have been supporting climate protection projects through the StiftungLife for several years, in which our team has also been actively involved.
What's next?
First of all, we will offset our emissions in 2024 through StiftungLife. However, as it is well known that reducing emissions is better than offsetting them, we have set ourselves the goal of reducing our emissions by around 10 percent per full-time equivalent in 2026. To measure our progress, we will also prepare a carbon footprint for 2025 and 2026.
Here you can find more information about actori as a company.
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A contribution by Michaela Herrmann, consultant.