CSR actions in 2009

Imtech worked on the following CSR projects aimed at making the company’s primary business activities more sustainable.

Carbon footprint measurement
The first step in the development of quantifiable CSR data is the development of an Imtech tool with which to measure the company’s own carbon footprint in global hectares (gha). This is the amount of biologically productive land and sea needed for one year to regenerate the resources consumed by Imtech’s primary processes and absorb and render harmless the waste from these processes. The measuring method complies with the ISO 14064 standard. It relates to the emission of greenhouse gases resulting from the energy and water consumption of offices, business trips and the commuting of employees. This method has been tested in several countries. In 2010 Imtech is in a position to report these data in a reliable and consistent manner for its entire organisation. Internal discussions will then be started regarding how we can achieve a further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Chain responsibility
As a CSR-aware company Imtech has its own ‘CSR Code of Supply’, which has been signed not only by Imtech but also by many of its co-manufacturers, suppliers and own general and technical services suppliers. The core of this code is reciprocal innovation, co-operation and creativity and the agreement to measure the carbon footprint and formulate goals, and an action plan, for reducing the carbon footprint. It is also agreed that project waste will be limited as far as possible and any waste that cannot be avoided will be disposed of in an environmentally-aware manner. The use of as many environmentally-aware products is also a target. Sustainable best practices are exchanged and compliance in the field of HSE is permitted. The co-operation in the CSR field is evaluated on a regular basis in order to seek out new ways to improve sustainability performance. Imtech has signed this code with around 50 companies in Europe and, in the near future, wants to increase this number to include all the major partners in the chain.

Managing waste streams and ‘green’ energy in offices
Imtech does everything possible to separate and recycle waste in order to create new raw materials and works with reputable waste services providers. The resulting understanding of the data related to waste has helped in the drawing up of a waste policy. In total 10 million kWh of sustainable energy is generated by the incineration of residual waste each year and used as ‘green’ electricity for Imtech’s offices in the Netherlands. Information about this sustainable solution has been communicated throughout the organisation.

Green vehicle fleet
In 2009 Imtech’s total Dutch fleet of leased vehicles ran on environment-saving fuel. Which meant Imtech reduced fuel consumption by 400,000 litres and prevented almost 1 million kilos of harmful CO2 emissions. This initiative was, on a limited scale, followed up in other Imtech countries. The freedom of choice in the leased vehicle fleet was restricted to ‘green cars’. In addition, the policy of limiting travel within Imtech and increasing communication via other methods was implemented. To this end various office video conference rooms were set up.

Corporate Citizenship: ‘Shared Success in Developing Countries’
For Imtech Corporate Citizenship means a corporate strategy in which the Company’s own employees are deployed to carry out CSR projects in Third-World countries. Imtech has made a considered choice of South Africa because of its existing networks in the country (around 200 employees with the relevant back-office facilities in our ten marine service points) and the absence of a language barrier. Via South African non-profit organisations, Imtech wants to help local enterprises and communities achieve further development and improved welfare with the help of technological solutions in the core areas of energy, environment and water. This approach is called Shared Success in Developing Countries (SSDC) – a reference to Imtech’s corporate slogan. The cost of this policy is around 1 million euro per annum. In 2009 over 30 Imtech employees were directly involved with this policy. Imtech’s CSR community now comprises 450 employees. Within a few years this number must rise to 1,000.

Slippers promote the environment, welfare and children’s projects in South Africa
The Ubuntu Company, an initiative of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and the KidsRights foundation, manufactured trendy design slippers for the European market. Sales of these slippers reached 25,000 in the first year of production and expectations for future sales are high. The slippers are made in a factory in Durban by around 75 formerly homeless people from the townships. They are made out of discarded car tyres that formerly were dumped in the countryside. The flip-flops are a source of income for nearly 1,000 people, such as suppliers to and family members of the employees. The profit is used for incentive projects for South African children. In the past this initiative received an Imtech Grant from the UfD Imtech fund from Delft University of Technology.

Energy awareness and savings in South Africa
Because energy costs are subsidised substantially by the South African government energy awareness is low. And as energy costs are rising by at least 25% a year this is causing major problems, especially for residents in the townships. At the same time, increased prosperity is bringing about a dramatic rise in energy consumption, the result of which is frequent power cuts. Energy awareness and energy savings are essential if the energy supply is to remain guaranteed and affordable. Imtech, in co-operation with the NOVA foundation, which is supported by the Dutch development organisation ICCO, started a unique initiative to stimulate energy awareness in South Africa. The energy consumption of a great many households was metered and ways to achieve savings were recommended. The goal is to roll out this model on a large scale. As a result of Imtech’s advice ‘energy coaches’ were appointed and informative meetings were held. Co-operation with local manufacturers of energy-saving equipment, such as solar water heaters and energyefficient refrigerators, was also intensified.

Carbon Credits from South Africa: compensation for greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon Credits are certificated and tradable emission rights the revenue of which is used to promote welfare and sustainability projects for the local populace in developing countries. As a spin-off from the SSDC project mentioned above, the possibilities for the acquisition of certificated and tradable Carbon Credits have been inventoried and the possibility of generating these Carbon Credits via the energy-awareness and saving project has been investigated. In 2010 a framework agreement to use Carbon Credits as compensation for the emission of greenhouse gases in various pilot projects in co-operation with CSR-aware customers will be drawn up between Imtech, the Nova foundation and ICCO. This approach is unique in Europe.

ICARUS: making employees energy-aware
Another spin-off from the SSDC project was the ICARUS project – an Imtech-wide energy-awareness programme for Imtech employees in Europe. The energy consumption of 200 employees was metered using the same method as in South Africa. The project had several phases: metering the consumption, metering the effects of energy awareness, offering tips for energy savings, bringing the employees together in networks, setting up a website, recording the results and communicating these results internally. In the light of the interest shown by Housing Associations and other non-profit organisations it has been decided to instigate a study into an external version of this programme.

Office-WISE: pilot for energy-neutral Imtech offices
An initiative aimed at making a number of Imtech office buildings, including the head office, energy-efficient has been started under the name Office-WISE. The project involves three lines of approach: metering the energy consumption and increasing energy awareness, implementing energy-saving measures, and using the Carbon Credits received via the framework agreement between Imtech, the Nova foundation and ICCO to make these office buildings energy-neutral. This initiative is promoting energy-efficient operation within Imtech.

Imtech takes responsibility for the environment
Imtech’s marine office in Rotterdam is on the site of a former gas factory. The polluting production activities carried out by this factory for 50 years left the soil very contaminated. In fact, substantial pollution was discovered six metres under the surface. Measurements showed that these oils containing CFCs could come into contact with underground water. To prevent this an environmental survey was carried out by Imtech’s Arbodienst, the municipal authorities and various environmental organisations. It was decided to excavate the contaminated soil down to eight metres, and remove the source. The soil was then decontaminated. The total cost of the operation was approximately 1 million euro, approximately half of which was subsidised by the municipal and provincial authorities.

ISO 14001 certification
Imtech has been awarded ISO 14001 certification in a number of countries including the UK, Spain and the Nordic region. Certification of several other Imtech countries will follow in the coming years.

Icos Cleantech Fund I: early involvement with the latest sustainable technology
Imtech, along with CSM, Farm Frites and Icos Capital, is a participant in the Icos Cleantech Fund I. This is a fund in which technology experts, entrepreneurs and scientists work together with the objective of bringing promising technologies to development. The focus is on energy, waste and food. Imtech is participating with an amount of up to 2 million euro. Participation in this fund enables Imtech to be involved with innovative sustainable technology at an early stage. Icos Cleantech Fund Iis supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Fund assesses nearly 300 ideas each year and the most promising are financed, in 2009 for example:

  • Ensartech, which transforms heavily contaminated residual waste into energy and clean materials;
  • BiAqua, unique water purification technology that removes contaminants, including arsenic, from water and also helps prevent the growth of the legionella bacteria.

Green Office 2015®
The innovative, sustainable Green Office 2015® concept that was launched in 2008 was developed further. Green Office is an innovative vision whereby inner-city areas, criss-crossed by infrastructure, are elevated to multifunctional areas in which living, working and recreation are interwoven in a sustainable way. Derivative projects were discussed with various Dutch municipalities and with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

‘Green’ Imtech office
Imtech has made a start on its own trendsetting sustainable office in Eindhoven that will serve as an example in the field of energy use, CO2 emissions and environmental burden. It will be a building with a hightech intelligent outer skin that has an extremely beneficial influence on the energy and temperature performance. Technological innovations, such as integrated climate ceilings, cold and heat storage, the use of residual heat, decentralised power generation, energy-efficient LED lighting and an interior based on the ‘cradle-to-cradle’ principle will be incorporated. The office will be ready in 2010.