We are delighted to announce that we have reached another milestone in our sustainability reporting with the publication of our updated and completed Sustainability Report based on the requirements of the GRI Reporting Standards 2016.
This is the first time we have compiled financial and non-financial information in this voluntary reporting format, which requires us to take a holistic view of our global organisation, policies, and initiatives. Our report is intended to illustrate how responsibility for sustainability is strategically anchored and implemented at Bertling Logistics. In addition to financial data and relevant indicators, the report also shows how Bertling Logistics, with the support of its global offices and partners, responds to global challenges with effective solutions for sustainable development.
Relevant GRI indicators are presented directly in the text. A summary of all indicators can be found in the GRI index table on the last two pages of the report. The report covers the years 2022 and 2023 (Corporate Carbon Footprint 2023 will be added soon).
WHAT IS GRI?
GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) is the independent, international organisation that helps companies and other organisations take responsibility for their impacts by providing a common global language for communicating those impacts.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE REPORT
We report and have updated our commitment to the three dimensions of sustainability, collectively referred to as ESG:
You will also find more information on corporate sustainability in these sections.
We have also updated the table that provides an overview of our progress in implementing the principles of the UN Global Compact and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, all supported by announcements and news stories available on our website (see links at the bottom of the pages).
In addition to the news stories, we have also explained new concepts that we have introduced at Bertling Logistics (e.g. the corporate training concept), listed ESG key figures, highlighted office/warehouse locations where special sustainability concepts have already been introduced, and included our position on Scope 3 emissions.
We have also explained which GRI topics we consider to be material and non-material, who our stakeholders are, and which risks we consider having the greatest impact on our business services. These findings are regularly reviewed to ensure that our views and reporting approach as a logistics service provider are consistent and reasonable.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The next step in our sustainability reporting is to prepare a CSRD-compliant sustainability report. CSRD stands for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which will apply to Bertling Logistics from 2026. We want to start preparing now by carrying out a detailed double materiality assessment (led by an external consultancy) as a basis for our CSRD-compliant reporting. This will essentially replace and supplement our GRI based reporting.
Other sustainability and CSR actions we are working on include internal webinars on ETS and other sustainability related topics, ongoing training, a sustainable procurement policy, ongoing sustainability assessment of subcontractors, an updated EcoVadis scorecard to identify a 'real' green that proactively reduces our corporate carbon footprint in our offices and warehouses, to name a few.
At Bertling Logistics, we are excited about the recent improvements to our sustainability reporting and will continue to provide regular updates on our achievements, local and global projects and initiatives, as well as the next steps on our Road to Zero.
Colin MacIsaac, CEO of Bertling Logistics
