Sustainability

Our approach to sustainability

We exist to keep the wheels of industry turning – right across Europe. That is our purpose. We are committed to delivering sustainable long-term value for our customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As Europe’s leading distributor of industrial products and services, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of European manufacturing.

As we strive to limit the impact we have on the environment, we have taken a number of steps to address our own carbon footprint, reducing energy consumption and waste.

2021 ESG report

Key highlights:

  • Our ESG strategy is focused on three pillars: customers, environmental stewardship, people.
  • We have clear commitments and a roadmap to increased disclosure, aligned with recognised frameworks, and improved reporting.
  • We have committed to reducing our Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 15% by 2024.

Read our 2021 ESG report here.

EcoVadis

In 2021 we maintained our EcoVadis silver rating with a significant improvement on our 2020 score. Our silver rating places us in the top 25 per cent in our industry.

The full report by EcoVadis on our business is available here.

CDP report 2021

In our 2021 ESG report, we committed to start making public disclosures to CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project).

We completed the first submission later that year, making us the only major privately-owned industrial distribution businesses reporting to CDP.

We were delighted to receive a score of B-, which is significantly ahead of the score that the vast majority of first-time responders receive. It is also higher than the Trading, Wholesale, Distribution, Rental & Leasing sector average of C.

Our CDP report is available here.

Helping our customers on their sustainability journeys

Our products and services include different ways that we can help our customers on their sustainability journeys, reducing cost and wastage and maximising energy efficiency.

These include a wide range of condition monitoring and maintenance services that support our customers in their efforts, reducing the energy consumption of their manufacturing and processing plants.

For example, air pressure leakage is causing 14% energy consumption waste across the manufacturing sector. We can help our customers to solve this problem.

GHG emissions in 2020

We report annually on greenhouse gas emissions as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the impact we have on the environment. The audit and reporting of emission data is provided by EcoAct, a leading independent consultancy.

We are pleased to report that scope 1 emissions, representing 57% of our total, fell by 26% cent year-on-year. Scope 2 emissions, representing 18% of the total, fell by 8%. As a result, our combined scope 1 and scope 2 emissions fell by 23% year-on-year.

Scope 3 emissions, representing 25% of the total, fell by 25%.

To read the report for 2020, please download it here.

You can also download the 2019 summary report here.

Our code of conduct and ethics

We do our best to protect the environment and to limit the impact we have on it. This includes reducing our carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption and waste.

We are committed to meeting our responsibility for respecting and promoting human rights and to protecting our employees from all forms of discrimination. We do not tolerate any form of corruption and take a hard line to prevent abuse.

To read our code of conduct and ethics, please download it here.

Supplier code of conduct

We provide technical advice and specialist knowledge to our customers, applying solutions that advance their businesses in a sustainable and efficient way. We pride ourselves on operating with high standards of integrity and business ethics.

Our suppliers are an essential part of this approach and we ask them to share our commitment to regulatory compliance, human rights, business ethics and environmental responsibility.

The purpose of our supplier code of conduct is to ensure their engagement on these fundamental principles, and to ensure the commitment of their own supply chain.

Almost 95 per cent of our biggest suppliers have signed the code of conduct and we are in active discussions with the small minority that are outstanding. We regularly monitor compliance with the sustainability requirements of our code of conduct through independent third party assessors including EcoVadis.

We value our relationship with our suppliers and we are confident that the Code will make that relationship even stronger for the benefit of our customers.

To read the full supplier code of conduct, please download it here.

We support UN Global Compact

We aim to create a culture of integrity across the Rubix organisation in operating responsibly, in alignment with universal sustainability principles and take actions that benefit the society around us. In addition, we commit to pushing sustainability as part of our culture, with a view to reporting annually on our ongoing efforts.

To read our UN Global Compact report, please download it here.

Our people

We value the commitment of our colleagues and we recognise the importance of good working relationships and communication.

A formal human resources policy framework is followed throughout the Group. The framework includes a process of appraisal and development to ensure Group companies get the best from their people; emphasis has been placed on
career pathways with individual training and development programmes.

The Group operates internationally and therefore our employment practices are varied to meet local conditions and requirements. These are established based on the best practice for each market.

More information on the Group’s people policies is available here.