Sustainability at Eurofins
Our focus on ethical, social and environmental aspects
June 2023. Embedding sustainability principles in our business strategy and day-to-day activities is an essential part of our corporate philosophy. We focus on measures for environmental protection, but also on the ethical, social and ecological aspects of our business activities. In doing so, we consider the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Carbon neutrality by 2025
The topic of climate change is high on the global agenda and safeguarding our planet and its resources is in line with our mission of Testing for Life. In response to these challenges, and because it is the right thing to do, Eurofins’ leaders and Board set a public target in 2020 for the Group to become carbon neutral by 2025. To achieve this goal we measure our carbon footprint annually in accordance with internationally recognised standards, implement reduction measures and compensate what is unavoidable yet. In 2022, Eurofins achieved an absolute emission reduction of about 7% and about 9% relative emission reduction (tCO2e/FTE) compared to 2021.
Eurofins Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany achieved an absolute and relative emission reduction of about 32% compared to 2021. We achieved this due to our commitment of switching to 100% green electricity (Ok-Power Label certified) and implementing measures to reduce our carbon footprint, such as:
- investing in energy-efficient building and lab technology
- training our staff on carbon reduction and energy efficiency
- promoting more climate-friendly means of transport for commuting
At our site in Hamburg-Harburg, where about half of the Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany are located, we follow the guidelines of the General German Biking Club (ADFC e.V) and are currently rewarded with the silver certificate for "bike-friendly employers". In addition, all Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany take part in an annual bike-to-work initiative.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
Eurofins defines a diverse workforce as one reflective of people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, generations, cultures, nationalities, ethnicities, races, disabilities, and origins. Eurofins’ equality advancement goal is integral to our mission to be the Global Leader in Testing for Life.
Eurofins’ Equality Driving Excellence (EDE) initiative has a collective mission to empower Business Lines throughout Eurofins to advance equality and equity for all and share best practice and training initiatives in all forms. An annual employee equality survey distributed to all Eurofins employees reveals insights on how we can improve as an employer in fields like career pathing, internal mobility, leadership opportunities, and how our employees would like to see equality advanced within the Eurofins network. In addition, a series of Net Promotor Score (NPS) questions are asked for employees to rate Eurofins as a place they would recommend to a work as it relates to equality of gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, and disability.
Based on the results of the survey Eurofins Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany trained two “compatibility guides” in 2022, who serve all employees as a trustful first point of contact when they are facing challenges in the field of child or elderly care. In addition, we started a cooperation with the "pme Family Service" (website in German), who relieves professionals of the burden of organising and financing care services and offers psychosocial support.
Sustainable supply chain management
In 2022, we strengthened our procurement and supply chain management practices by confirming our Supplier Code of Ethics with significant vendors accounting for more than 53% of the Group's purchasing spend. Furthermore in 2022, Eurofins' 102 top spend vendors have been invited for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) online assessments covering questions about vendor practices around three CSR pillars (i.e., social, environmental and business continuity). Recognising that Eurofins is able to influence more than 30,000 suppliers to follow our principles and values, Eurofins has strengthened its supplier cooperation practices by adding CSR ratings into the formalised Supplier Onboarding and Evaluation policy in 2022.
EcoVadis sustainability assessment
At the same time, we are finding more of our key customers are engaging with us directly to define sustainability engagement plans and as part of these collaborative efforts, Eurofins participated in a Group level EcoVadis CSR assessment for the first time in 2022.
Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany also participate individually in EcoVadis assessments to demonstrate and reflect on their sustainability performance. Currently, the following Food and Feed Testing laboratories in Germany are rated with an EcoVadis silver or gold certificate:
Please contact us
For further information on sustainability at Eurofins, please see the Eurofins Environment, Social and Governance Report 2022 or send an email to nachhaltigkeit@eurofins.de.
