Golder Associates releases Sustainable Development Report

Golder Associates, a global consulting, design and construction services company, produced its first-ever Sustainable Development Report. The report, which can be found at www.sustainabledevelopment.golder.com, describes in depth the company’s journey toward sustainable development and highlights the significant progress to date, as well as the milestones that have been set toward 2015.

The report conforms to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) B Grade standards and includes Golder’s reporting data on 27 indicators such as energy usage, company governance, financial performance, and contributions to philanthropic efforts. GRI, a non-profit organization that promotes economic, environmental and social sustainability, provides companies and organizations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world.

"This report puts a mirror up in front our company … and in front of every member of the Golder team. It reflects where we are today. It reveals that we are addressing many initiatives concurrently, but recognizes that we don’t yet have all the answers," said Brian Conlin, President and CEO.

Golder’s report is organised around the six areas of Golder’s Sustainable Development Commitment — organisation, people, governance, operations, clients, and communities. The theme of the report is the company "charter," which is made up of the key elements that describe Golder’s culture: its purpose, vision, values, strategy and code of conduct. The report seeks to demonstrate how Golder’s unique culture and employee ownership structure continue to enable the company to align its business operations with sustainable development.

One key goal for 2015 is to reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 20 percent over its 2009 baseline through office efficiency improvements, virtual meeting technology, energy-efficient vehicles, and use of renewable energy. The report also summarizes the company’s efforts with respect to local volunteerism, emergency relief donation efforts, and the success of the company’s charity, the Golder Trust for Orphans.