ESG at KUBO: Project updates and initiatives

Our ESG Manager, Bart Bossink, regularly shares updates on developments in this area within the KUBO Group. This time, it is the November 2024 update.

Back to work full of energy after the summer

The summer holidays are already behind us, the warm months have passed, and the darker days are approaching. A perfect time to get back to work full of energy! And that is exactly what we are doing: it is a busy period, with three major projects that all need to be completed before the end of this year. You can read more about these projects later in this blog.

On Thursday, 5 September 2024, I had the honour of giving a presentation on sustainability during the annual Ultra-Clima® Convention, organised by KUBO and held in Rotterdam this year. It was inspiring to meet a large group of enthusiastic customers from all over the world. During my presentation, I shared insights into the development of our ESG strategies and discussed sustainability-related regulations and reporting requirements. The responses from those attending, each with their own experiences with ESG, showed just how significant the differences are worldwide. This once again highlighted the need to harmonise ESG regulations and objectives globally.

Sustainability Day

Thanks to our Marketing and HR departments, I also gave an interactive session to our colleagues at KUBO on Thursday, 10 October 2024, Sustainability Day, focusing on our sustainability initiatives. We held two sessions, both with a good turnout and inspiring discussions. The morning concluded with an ESG quiz, with a fun prize for the winner.

That day, we challenged our team to cycle to work, take the stairs instead of the lift, and enjoy the delicious, healthy snacks available in the canteen. It was a successful day that we would like to repeat every year. We made a recap of this day in a video.

Being sustainable has never been so much fun!

Projects and initiatives at KUBO

Carbon Reduction Plan

Over the past few weeks, we have been working intensively on data collection within KUBO, gathering information from various subsidiaries and entering it into an ESG tool. Together with our partner Holtara, we are analysing this information to compile our Carbon Report 2023. This report, which will include an update on our carbon footprint, is expected to be published in mid-November this year. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this data collection.

CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)

We are fully engaged in preparing for the CSRD reporting requirements for 2025. This intensive project will require a great deal of attention over the coming months. Together with Holtara, we are taking the necessary steps to meet the requirements identified in the Gap Analysis, ensuring that we are “CSRD audit-proof”. At the end of this year, we will have an external auditor assess our preparations.

Validation project

In May 2024, Anthesis delivered an interim report containing its initial findings. The results of our energy-efficient and CO₂-saving cultivation process are promising. We therefore expect certification to be issued by the end of this year, followed shortly afterwards by validation. In addition, we have appointed an independent party to carry out various validations on our behalf.

ESG strategy

Most of the One Pagers (ESG objectives) have been drawn up, and several sub-projects have already started. The results and progress are reported internally, while several important KPIs will also be shared externally on our website and in our sustainability report, as required by CSRD legislation.

Employee mobility survey

In September, all colleagues received a survey about mobility. The response was excellent! The results are being processed and submitted to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). This will provide the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management with better insight into the CO₂ emissions generated by business travel and commuting. A summary of the results will be published soon.

Collaboration and knowledge sharing in sustainability

Sustainability is a constantly evolving field. We work closely with customers and partners to learn from one another and exchange knowledge about sustainability. A good example is a project in which we are mapping the carbon footprint of the greenhouses we build, together with one of our customers. This not only helps us make our processes more sustainable, but also strengthens our relationships with partners in the field of sustainability.