Climate-neutral operations

To provide insight into our CO2footprint and reduce our CO2emissions, we use the CO₂Performance Ladder. Many government agencies use this system. We also communicate on whether we have achieved our goals. Every step in the process is verified by an external auditor.

In March 2024, we received CO₂Performance Ladder certification at Level 4.

We took action in 2023 to make the SVB offices more sustainable and also to reduce our CO₂ emissions from travel and on the goods and services we procure. Details of these measures are set out in our CO₂ management plan.

The results for the 1st half of 2024 clearly show the effects of our switch to green energy as of 1 January 2024. CO₂ emissions during this period totalled 851 tons, compared to 2,038 tons of CO₂ in the 1st half of 2023.

As a result, the biggest single contributor to the CO₂emissions in our footprint in the 1st half of 2024 was natural gas. Most of our remaining electricity consumption relates to the office premises we rent in Utrecht Papendorp, where green energy is not yet being used.

Climate-neutral in 2030 and halfway there in 2025 (compared with 2019)

This interim goal was reached by the end of 2023 and so we are on target to achieve the main goal.

Emissions-free vehicle fleet in 2028

Our switch to electric pool cars in spring this year means we are on target to achieve this goal, with 70% of our vehicle fleet now being electric.

Halving of work-related mobility in 2030 (compared with 2016)

We have achieved this goal. However, work-related travel is rising again because of the increase in the number of employees working at our locations and the number of external meetings.

IT hardware

Procurement and use of hardware

• The SVB has introduced measures to reduce the number of telephones in use by employees.
• Wherever possible, laptops are repaired and re-used. In this way, we have managed to extend lifespans to 5 years.
• Computer screens are used for their full technical lifespan. This is 5 years in the case of laptops, which are then replaced.

Energy consumption

By installing targeted metering and using dashboard-based systems we are increasingly gaining insight into our IT systems’ energy consumption.

Hirings

• By recruiting more permanent employees, the IT division will in due course have less need to hire temporary staff.
• Our broker is currently investigating whether travel by their flexible staffing pool can be measured. Ahead of this, the broker now indicates which candidates represent the most sustainable option (August 2024) and has made a tool available for selecting more sustainable travel options (September 2024)

The SVB is participating in various initiatives with other parties in the supply chain so that we can learn from each other and share insights. One of the ways in which we are doing this is in the central government’s Community of Practice CO₂ Performance Ladder, with guidance from Pianoo and SKAO. We also play an active role in the corporate social responsibility platform ‘Maatschappelijk Verantwoord Ondernemen’ provided by the government-wide benchmark group (RBB group), and where sustainability advisers from the affiliated organisations share their experience and discuss new developments.

This development project is examining opportunities to make shared working space available to public sector workers at an SVB location with good public transport links. We have established that secure access is possible, and that it can be arranged via, for example, Govroam.

During the year under review we reassessed our office strategy and considered the option of shared locations as one of the possible scenarios. This involved a detailed analysis of how many employees can reach our various locations within acceptable travel times (whether by car or public transport or walking/cycling). This has then been used as the basis for determining locations’ attractiveness and suitability.

While the report on our office strategy continues to view shared office space as an option, more investigation is needed and we do not envisage being able to implement this option in the near future. We will therefore focus on an option that can contribute more quickly to achieving progress.