Industrial and electronic products distributor Electrocomponents has launched its comprehensive 2030 environmental, social and governance (ESG) action plan, titled ‘For a better world’.

During a virtual media conference on November 4, subsidiary RS Components social responsibility and sustainability VP Andrea Barrett explained that the company had set four goals to drive its ambition to lead the global industrial sector in ESG.                                     

These goals are advancing sustainability, championing education and innovation, empowering people and doing business responsibly.

Barrett pointed out that the group had committed to reaching net-zero emissions across its global operations by 2030, as well as achieving net zero in its wider value chain by 2050.

“The group aims to be net zero, with a science-based target to reduce absolute emissions from its own operations by 75%,” she said.

To reach that target, it is working to make its packaging more sustainable by reducing intensity by 30% and that 100% of packaging is widely reusable, recyclable or compostable and made with 50% recycled content.

The group will also reduce, reuse and recycle its own waste, thereby reducing intensity by 50%. It has committed to recycling more than 95% of its packaging and achieving zero waste to landfill in its direct operations.

Barrett pointed out that, to achieve the net-zero global value chain target by 2050, the group will engage 65% of its suppliers by investing in setting science-based targets by 2025.

Additional goals include reducing transport emissions by 25% per tonne sold, as well as through developing innovative and sustainable product and service solutions for all customers.

Electrocomponents’ social responsibility will be heightened through ensuring the highest ethical and environmental standards throughout the business and global value chain.

“This will be achieved by embedding ESG objectives in employee rewards, supplier objectives and a new sustainability-linked loan,” Barrett said.

These objectives include evaluating its suppliers against Electrocomponents’ own high ethical and environmental standards, as well as setting ESG objectives for strategic suppliers.

She added that it would be paramount for the company to build skills, as well as foster innovative solutions that improve lives.

This will be achieved by reaching out to over one-million youths with educational technologies, learning content and skills development to support future engineers and innovators.

The group also plans to support its social impact partners to develop solutions that improve lives.

The most notable of these initiatives is the washing machine project to help 100 000 people in need.

Barrett explained that the washing machine project is a registered social enterprise, dedicated to designing, developing and distributing low-cost, water-saving, manual washing machines to provide displaced and low-income people with an alternative to handwashing clothes.

“The washing machine project is supported by the Washing Machine Project Foundation, which is a registered charity in England and Wales,” she said.

Further, the company plans to engage with 1.5-million engineers and innovators in creating socially responsible and sustainable solutions.

Electrocomponents aims to create a safe, inclusive and dynamic culture in which people can thrive and grow.

She stressed that the company would also ensure its team is reflective of the customers, suppliers and communities it serves by working towards having 40% of its leaders being women and 25% being ethnically diverse.

“We will also strive to achieve and maintain an employee engagement score in the top 10% of high-performing companies.”

She added that the group would also aim for zero accidents at its operations, as well as to inspire 50% of its colleagues to volunteer to support their communities and build new skills.

Barrett pointed out that the goals announced on November 4 would build on the already strong progress made by the company.

These achievements include a 62% reduction in the company’s carbon dioxide emissions from energy use since 2014.

About 67% of the group’s electricity was derived from renewable sources in 2020/21.

Further, about 76% of all waste generated by the company was recycled in 2020/21 and about 44% of the company’s board members, including its chairperson, are female.

RS Components is one of nine brands sold under the Electrocomponents umbrella. The other brands are Allied Electronics & Automation, RS PRO, OKdo, DesignSpark, IESA, Synovos, Needlers and Liscombe.