Sopra Steria, a key digital player committed to fighting climate change

Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software development, has fulfilled its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact by pursuing corporate, social and environmental policies for a more sustainable world. As we approach World Climate Day, taking place on 8 December, the Group wants to put the environment at the heart of debate more than ever before. While the environmental cause clearly engages individuals, associations and institutions, companies must also fight against climate change. Now that the situation has become urgent, Sopra Steria is reviewing its commitments to combatting climate change and preserving the environment, involving all its stakeholders.

Collective action for responsible digital technology working for the planet

Technology has social and environmental effects, and digital players need to contribute to the development of a more inclusive and sustainable society. In order to ensure that its digital solutions serve the common good and the planet, Sopra Steria involves all its stakeholders - including customers, employees, shareholders, partners, suppliers and wider society – in their development.

Sopra Steria has decided to become a founding partner of Make.org¹ for the Grande Cause Environment, the biggest public consultation on the environment ever launched in France. Addressing the topic “how to work together now for the environment” for two years, it will create solutions through innovation in fields as diverse as digital sobriety, responsible AI, renewable energies, new modes of mobility and even optimising distribution networks.

In November, the Group also launched the Entrepreneurship for Tomorrow Award² - the Grand Prize of the Sopra Steria-Institut de France Foundation - rewarding and supporting students and young entrepreneurs who are committed to digital responsibility. Operating under the patronage of Luc Hardy, a tech investor and explorer greatly committed to the environment, this award is for ‘responsible digital technology working for the planet’ and will reward the best projects at a ceremony taking place at the Institut de France on 3 June 2020.

 “Responsible digital technology, alongside people, can be part of the solution to the climate emergency. Today, faced with this global challenge, it’s vital that digital companies take responsibility in the fight against climate change, particularly on issues such as mobility, modes of consumption and production methods,” explains Fabienne Mathey Girbig, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development Director at Sopra Steria. “We believe that through initiatives like the Make.org Grande Cause competition on the environment and the Entrepreneurship for Tomorrow Award from the Sopra Steria-Institut de France Foundation, we’re contributing to building practical solutions together for a positive transformation of our society.”

An ambitious commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)

Controlling GHG emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Sopra Steria has responded to the United Nation’s call to action in the fight against climate change by aligning its targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions with the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.  

Sopra Steria has committed itself to reducing its GHG emissions per employee by 48% of their 2015 levels by 2025. The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has approved this scientifically-calculated target.

 The Science Based Targets initiative’s approval of our targets for reducing our GHG emissions is another powerful external validation of our approach to environmental sustainability. We will continue to drive our strategy and build on our support for the UN Paris Agreement on Climate Change,” explains Vincent Paris, Sopra Steria CEO.

 The Group has also committed itself to having key suppliers representing at least 70% of its supply chain emissions managing their GHG emissions and 90% of these suppliers having GHG reduction targets in place by 2025.

Practical action against a major challenge

To achieve its GHG reduction targets, Sopra Steria is committed to rationalising its energy consumption, developing the use of renewable energy and taking advantage of new technologies to reduce business travel.

So by the end of 2018, 78% of the electricity consumed by the Group came from renewable sources, against 20.40% in 2015. Sopra Steria is also certified CarbonNeutral^® for its business travel, office space and data centres through an emissions offsetting scheme.

To meet its targets, Sopra Steria also relies on the involvement and ‘eco-responsibility’ of its employees:

• it regularly runs internal campaigns to raise awareness, particularly as part of World Environment Day and European Sustainable Development Week;
• it has also rolled out initiatives such as an ‘Internal Carbon Award’, which aims to make employees aware of the environmental impact of business travel, car-sharing schemes and Operation Green Wall, which, as part of European Waste Reduction Week, led to the sharing of more than 180 employee suggestions from across the Group;
• finally, the Group works with a network of local volunteer ambassadors to implement its policies and support local initiatives.

In 2019 for the second year running CDP³ recognised Sopra Steria’s approach to managing its environmental impact by awarding it an A, the highest rating available for CDP’s Climate Change programme that only 150 companies achieve world-wide.

¹ Make.org is a public platform committed to transforming society positively. Find out more: http://bit.ly/33BboHj