Havas Group, the French owned marketing giant which operates in 100 countries and employs more than 19,000 staff, has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, some 16 years after it first started its CSR programme in 2009.
On the heels of World Environment Day, the group has released its 2020 CSR Report, presenting the results and progress of its CSR programme Havas Impact+.
Launched in 2020 and organised around three key pillars – environment, people, and meaningful communication – Havas Impact+ commits the agency to positively impact the world and act towards a more inclusive and sustainable society.
The Havas Impact+ environmental pillar formalises the group’s actions to fight against climate change. As part of this pillar, Havas has set ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each year in alignment with the science-based target commitment by parent Vivendi.
By the end of 2020, Havas Group achieved a reduction of GHG emissions by 32% in absolute terms and by 31% per collaborator, from a 2018 baseline. By 2025, the company pledges to achieve carbon neutrality.
To achieve this goal, Havas Group objectives are to achieve a 5% decrease in electricity consumption; shift to 25% supply of renewable energy; a 20% decrease in non-hazardous waste generation; shift to 100% use of recycled and/or certified paper (from sustainable forests); a40% decrease in paper consumption; and making sure all its agencies have recycling programmes in place.
This 2020 report reveals that 28% of the group’s global headcount is now operating under ISO 14001 certification; 15% of the group’s global headcount has achieved its target of 100% renewable electricity purchasing; 17% of the group’s electricity consumption was from renewable sources in 2020; and there was a 42% reduction in paper consumption in 2020.
Havas Group chief communications and CSR officer Lorella Gessa said: “Corporate social responsibility is an integral part of everything we do at Havas. We didn’t wait for CSR to go mainstream before assuming our responsibilities. As a pioneer, Havas was taking on concrete commitments as early as 2009, which are reflected today in our results.
“With the power of the Havas Impact+ program and our creative ideas, I’m convinced that Havas is on the right track to become the leading communications group on environmental issues and the most meaningful company within our industry.”
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