How is Capgemini Leading Sustainability by Example?
Capgemini works with giant companies around the world to improve their impact on the world, but it wants to lead by example.
Its Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability UK Progress report for 2023/24 shows significant sustainability progress, including a 50% reduction in absolute emissions from a 2019 baseline.
Rob Walker, UK Managing Director at Capgemini, says: “Everyday Capgemini works in partnership to empower our clients on their dual journey towards a more digital and sustainable future. We are proud to lead by example.
“We’ve made great strides, and my leadership team and I are committed to keep making progress across each area of our responsibility and sustainability strategy.”
How Capgemini UK approaches environmental sustainability
Capgemini is committed to being a net zero business by 2040 with verified science-based targets.
In the UK, the company’s strategy focuses on four areas:
- Empower its people – embedding sustainability principles into its business culture and governance processes, and making carbon a business performance metric
- Transform its mobility – minimising business travel emissions and making low-carbon options available when travel is necessary
- Invest in sustainable operations – transitioning its sites to renewable energy contracts, improving efficient resource use and optimising IT infrastructure
- Provide solutions – offer services that support its clients to address sustainability challenges
Capgemini UK has established a Decarbonisation Board of senior leaders across the business to achieve its 2040 net zero objective.
In 2023, it achieved 100% renewable energy use with a 25% increase in energy efficiency in its offices and a company car fleet that is 94% full electric vehicle or hybrid.
More than one million trees have been planted in the “Capgemini forest” as part of its ambition to plant 20 million trees by 2030 in partnership with Ecologi.
Capgemini UK supports hybrid working among its employees and delivered a series of webinars focussed on reducing home energy consumption in which more than 2,000 employees participated.
Its employee benefits package also encourages people to cut their carbon footprint, offering a home energy assessment from Big Clean Switch to identify measures to improve energy performance supported by an interest-free loan from Capgemini to finance sustainable home improvements.
Dr. James Robey, Global Head of Environmental Sustainability and UK Responsible Business Lead at Capgemini, says: “The urgent call for action resonates immensely, not only among business leaders within Capgemini but with our clients and wider stakeholders.
“All of us are impacted by the need to address climate change and biodiversity loss, and boost diversity and inclusion, while contributing to society.
“It accelerates our thinking within Capgemini and, more crucially, our actions.”
Capgemini’s approach to digital inclusion
Across Capgemini globally, the company aims to support 5 million people through digital inclusion programmes by 2030.
In 2023, more than 1,000 Capgemini UK employees volunteered to help increase digital literacy.
Technology and digitisation can also help to solve problems.
The company is working with Pollenize, a UK-based social enterprise, to create a tool that uses data from both bees and people to improve biodiversity in urban areas.
Data from both individuals and pollinators can be used to provide recommendations on the best type of seeds to be planted in different locations to support biodiversity needs.
Diversity and inclusion at Capgemini
Capgemini UK’s efforts are driven by the Capgemini Group diversity and inclusion policy to offer a consistent and shared approach globally.
Its Active Inclusion programme in the UK focuses on three principles for practical action:
- Fostering diverse teams
- Ensuring fair and equitable participation
- Strengthening its inclusive culture
To promote an inclusive culture, Capgemini UK has introduced a Health and Wellbeing Hub with resources to support navigating challenging situations.
“Last year, we updated our Health and Wellbeing Hub to act as a single source of help, support and to assist employees to prioritise their wellbeing,” says Rachel Barber, Employee Wellbeing Lead at Capgemini.
“We host menopause cafes, taking groups of women through kickstart programmes, building resilience, relationships, understanding and embracing change, managing mental health through menopause, motherhood and bereavement.
“While the focus on wellbeing is for all, we know that our female employees appreciate the dedicated support created for them.”
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