We see broadband as key to achieving a sustainable world whereby communication technology helps to reduce the usage of natural resources. Reducing on traveling and commuting supported by a well-established fiber infrastructure and applications reducing the CO2 footprint. Broadband over fiber has the power to bring all the work resources they need into their home office.
Besides the impact of the broadband industry, we also find it our responsibility to impact the world in a positive way aswel.
Sustainability workgroup
In 2022 Genexis has created a sustainability workgroup, to structurize and professinalize the topic within the company. To get the most support and input from the whole organization, the workgroup consists of a multidisciplinary team.
The main goal of this workgroup is to create a companywide vision regarding sustainability, setting targets and stimulating & supporting teams to translate this vision into concrete actions for day-to-day business.
One of our workgroup members, Martijn Rooijakkers, is also active in the FTTH Sustainability Working Group.
Sustainable Development Goals
With workgroup we looked at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations General Assembly to steer and organize our sustainable activities. These 17 SDGs are designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.
The three main SDGs that we act on are:
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
Based on the three Sustainability Development Goals we created four sustainability themes within Genexis. These 4 themes are:
Product design: Designing our products to reduce our ecological footprint
Assembly and Logistics: Lowering our environmental impact in the way we assemble and transport our products
Supply chain: Work together with our suppliers and partners to reduce the environmental footprint of our supply chain
Business operations: Conducting our business at Genexis in a sustainable matter
Silver award EcoVadis rating
EcoVadis provides holistic sustainability ratings service of companies. The EcoVadis Rating covers a broad range of non-financial management systems including 4 themes: Environmental, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement impacts.
Based on these 4 themes, Genexis is measured via the quality of its sustainability management system through its policies, actions and results. Resulting in the Silver sustainability award.
Solar panels at HQ
An example of the theme ‘Business Operations’ is the use of renewable energy. We find it very important to use renewable energy where we can. Therefore, at the Genexis headquarters in Eindhoven there are 434 solar panels installed.
These 434 solar panels generate a total of 165.000 kWh energy per year. This means that 113% of our energy consumption is from renewable energy. The remaining 13% is fed back to the grid.
Using recycled plastics
Throughout our portfolio we are implementing the use of recycled plastics in our hardware. We see this as a great opportunity to reduce our environmental footprint, as it is widely available and the same specifications can be met as virgin plastics.
One example is a custom-made product for KPN, the Tier-1 network operator in the Netherlands. One of KPN’s goals is to use almost 100% reusable materials by 2025. To support KPN in this goal, Genexis developed a Network Terminator (NT) which uses >98% recycled plastics for the products housing.
This full case is also published on the website of the FTTH Council – sustainability.