This Environmental policy provides a framework for the management of greenhouse gas (GHG) and waste reduction within Wimmer Solutions Corporation.
Wimmer Solutions’ motto is Care Creates Community. This extends to the environment and climate control. Wimmer Solutions is committed to doing our part to ensure a clean energy economy.
Wimmer Solutions is a smaller Professional Services agency, leases all its facilities, and only leases one corporate vehicle, so we face challenges in reporting and reducing our Greenhouse Gas emissions. Providing accurate and effective reports and reducing our emissions requires us to engage readily with our partners. Wimmer Solutions is focused on building and maintaining relationships with our partners to continue to improve our data quality and reduce our emissions. We worked with our building management to provide our electricity use, but that is the only real inventory we can provide along with our corporate leased vehicle.
We set initiatives to reduce our waste from office activities and recycle our electronics at the end of their life. Wimmer Solutions does not consume raw materials, chemicals, or generate hazardous waste in our business practices. We engage our stakeholders to identify what topics are relevant to our company.
Wimmer Solutions developed a fiscal year of January 1st -December 31st. We are using the period of January 1st, 2017 – December 31st, 2017 as our baseline. This base line includes 18 metric tons C02-equivalent (MTCO2e) of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. Wimmer solutions started focusing on scope 3 emissions in reporting period of January 1st, 2019 – December 31st, 2019 as our baseline. This base line includes 77 metric tonsC02-equivalent (MTCO2e) of scope 3 emissions.
We used a qualitative approach to the Two Degree Scenario (2DS) to deem that a 2-degree Celsius has the potential to reduce air quality and chronic physical risk of the rise sea levels globally. Exceeding this threshold can greatly impact our office space as well as our partners quality of life. The IEA ETP 2DS sets the target of cutting CO2 emissions by almost 60% by 2050. We want to do our part and set a 60% reduction in our emissions from our 2017 base line. We previously set a 20% reduction by 2027 which we are on track to exceed, so much that we have reset our 20% Science-Based Target to 2025. A 60% reduction is something our organization is strategizing to achieve by 2050. We set a Science-Based Target of reducing our absolute Scope 1+2 emissions by 20% by 2025 (formerly 2027), 40% by 2035 and 60% by 2050. Continuing to meet a SBT of 100% reduction by 2060.
Wimmer Solutions had established a 20% reduction of agency wide scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in absolute terms by July 1, 2027, in relation to our 2017 Baseline.
Wimmer Solutions will establish and annually report a comprehensive inventory of absolute target of greenhouse gas emissions, including scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. Scope 3 was added in 2019 and will act as our baseline for scope 3.
We plan on achieving the following objectives for 2021:
Reduce our carbon emission by scope 1 and 2 emissions by 1.5% and our scope 3 emissions by 5% in 2021 from our 2020 emissions.
Use 100% renewable energy.
Waste reduction:
Wimmer Solutions Corporation
1341 N Northlake Way STE 300
Seattle, WA 98103
Position of individual(s)
Role
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
Oversees the sustainability committee. Aids in creation of initiatives, collection on data, and reporting.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Aids in providing data around fiscal benefits around climate change initiatives. Responsible for identifying vendors in the up and down chain.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Oversees and provides the final decision on the sustainability committee, initiatives, and incentives in regards to climate change.
Operations Manager (OM)
Collects data, builds reports, and works with partners
The sustainability committee that comprises of the CSO and OM meets quarterly. The sustainability committee is responsible for assessing and managing climate-related risks and opportunities, reporting, and working with our stakeholders. The CSO then meets with the Executive team (CFO and CEO) to report new initiatives and to assess and manage climate-related risks and opportunities. The leadership team then approves the initiatives. This happens quarterly. The CSO oversees the policy.
This pertains to all staff in the United States at all operational locations in the United States. We encourage staff to take these practices home in their day-to-day activities.
An annual review is presented by the OM and CSO to the Executive Team as a formal report. The next review is May 31st, 2022. If any activities change significantly, the policy will be updated outside of the annual review.
This policy will act as the formal document.
This policy was endorsed by the Executive Team on August 31,2020.
This policy can be found in the Wimmer Internal Team Site and online at https://www.wimmersolutions.com/environmental-policy
Reporting year: 2020 (January1, 2020 – December 31, 2020)
Gross global Scope 1emissions: 5 (metric tons CO2e)
Scope 2 global based emissions: 10 (metric tons CO2e)
Scope 3 emissions: 24 (metric tons CO2e)
Business Travel: 9 (metric tons CO2e)
Employee Commuting: 15 (metric tons CO2e)
Total Scope 1 & 2 emissions in 2020 was 15 (metric tons CO2e) which was a 6.3% decrease from 2019 which was 16 (metric tons CO2e). This is a 16.6% reduction from our 2017 baseline which was 18 (metric tons CO2e).
Scope 3 emissions was 24 (metric tons CO2e) which was a 68.8% decrease from 2019 which was 77 (metric tons CO2e). We will note that due to COVID-19 business travel and commuting was limited and we expect this year to be an anomaly.
Total Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions is 39 (metric tons CO2e).
We purchased the equivalent of 39 (metric tons CO2e) from TerraPass in 2021 to be carbon net neutral.
Wimmer Solutions is entrusted with the responsibility to provide professional management of services to not only our clients but also to the community, environment, and the world. Wimmer Solutions recognizes that there are more important factors than people and profits and we strive to act on behalf of the greater good of the world, focusing on procurement. While there may be additional costs, offset consideration can be obtained with market advantages achieved with a sustainable procurement system.
We consult with our stakeholders and communicate with our clients to understand their expectations.
We will work closely with our team to engage all functions that relate to IT procurement and business strategy.
The purpose of this policy is to outline our efforts and set standards for procurement.
This policy applies to our purchasers of the following items/materials: computers, electricity providers, datacenter hosting services, clothing and apparel, printer paper, and other office supplies.
Wimmer Solutions strives to be a responsible business that meets the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.
Our responsibility falls under two procurement categories: energy efficiency and ethical treatment of the employees of the company providing the service. This policy addresses initiatives to promote human rights and protect the environment.
Computer Procurement:
Purchased laptops have certain security requirements that our organization and clients require. We are requiring an additional spec of Energy Star Certified products, unless there is a specific request from our client where this is not possible. Our current standard issue is the HP 840 series, which are Energy Star Certified.
Electricity Procurement:
We currently lease our space, so we are not the decision maker in the procurement of electricity. Our provider is Seattle City Light, the sole provider in Seattle. The electricity is renewable and comes from hydroelectric facilities. The city does have three green programs that utilize renewable energy projects and solar energy.
In the event we are in a situation where we can procure our own electricity provider, we strive to find a source with green energy.
Data Center Procurement:
For on-premise network equipment, Energy Star equipment needs to be factored into the decision-making process, along with cost and security.
Wimmer moved to the cloud to save costs and reduce our energy consumption. When picking a hosted cloud solution, green practices by the hosting company needed to be taken into consideration. In the event of a change, environmental practices are a requirement when picking a new provider.
Our current provider has pledged to the following: 100% renewable energy by 2025, water positive by 2030, zero waste certification by 2030 and net zero deforestation from new construction.
Wood Product / Paper Procurement:
Our company sees the value in choosing wood/paper products that are produced in a sustainable manner. When procuring paper and wood products the following should be taken into consideration: Where do the products originate, is it credible, and legal? Is it produced in a manner that is sustainable, protects sensitive habitat, climate conscious, and made of recycled fibers? Is it produced in a socially responsible manner?
Other Office Supply Procurement:
For office supplies and other items procured the following should be taken into consideration: Is the item a one-time use? If so, the product should be recyclable or compostable. All utensils and dishware that is not reusable need to be compostable.
Office supplies should be reusable and have an option to use refillable products such as tape or ink cartridges. Also ask the questions: Where do the products originate, is it credible, and legal? Is it produced in a manner that is sustainable, protects sensitive habitat, climate conscious, and made of recycled fibers? Is it produced in a socially responsible manner?
Clothing And Apparel Procurement:
When procuring clothing and apparel, the following should be taken into consideration: Where do the products originate, is it credible, legal? Is it produced in a manner that is sustainable, protects sensitive habitat, climate conscious, and made of recycled fibers? Is it produced in a socially responsible manner?
Choosing items that are sustainable, made of organic or recycled fibers, while being slightly more expensive, send a message that we are a global partner and should be considered over items that are not.
Ethical Treatment of Outsourced Data Centers Employees:
When procuring from outsourced centers, the ethical treatment of the hosts employees needs to be taken into consideration. When picking a provider, the following questions should be asked: Do their employees have benefits? Do the employees work reasonable hours? Are they paid a fair and competitive living wage? Do they suffer consequences for reporting conduct, policy or legal issues?
Our current host has been ranked by Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies for 9 years in a row.
