Our solutions
Our mission and job as TAUW is to make sustainability feasible and tangible and to contribute to a world in which nature and human activities co-exist in harmony. Over the past year, we have again made impactful solutions in our internal operating procedures and more significantly, in every service we provide with and for our clients. In this section, we highlight the meaningful contributions we have made – and continue to make – to a vital living environment.
Impactful solutions in our services
As European environmental consultancy, we strive and undertake to reduce our footprint in all we do. But we know that our impact lies in increasing our handprint – we make the most difference in the projects we take on. And so for the following year, that is what we will focus on. One of our most significant contributions is supporting our clients to become more sustainable and guiding them to a sustainable world. We specifically developed a sustainability strategy and in all our projects the following five elements are key: biodiversity, circular economy, climate adaptation, climate mitigation and healthy soils. We will always look for the more sustainable solution in any project and for any client. Want to know how? Take a look at some of our impactful projects below.
Take a look at some of our impactful projects
Sustainable spatial development
The future looks green in the city of Eindhoven
Transactions and responsible investments
Project Energy II: an asset to sustainability, Berlin Bridge
Quality, Environment, Health & Safety compliance
Compliance management at Fokker Aerostructures
Water (and drought)
Dry feet and green spaces through reinforcing Zwolle urban dykes
Site development
Key role for TAUW in transforming Aluchemie site to Greenfield
Syntraal: New business models
Syntraal plays a central role within TAUW as a business incubator. Syntraal actively participates in startup companies with different business models. Since 1 January 2019, Syntraal has been a company within TAUW with an independent management. The companies in which Syntraal participates are independently operating companies with their own statutory board.
TAUW stands for new business models/ways of thinking that are not directly related to us as a project-organisation. We want to learn from new developments and entrepreneurs who think differently in their living ambition. We are aware that not every new startup can be integrated into an existing organisation, but must have its own environment in order to grow to business maturity. Through Syntraal, TAUW is now connected to several new business models.
We provide impactful solutions in our operations
“A better world starts at home.” At TAUW we take the commitment to reduce our carbon footprint very seriously. We took further steps to promote sustainable commuting, improve waste management, operate as a paperless company and monitor our CO2 emissions. This is what we did last year:
CO2 emissions in tons per year
(data and targets only for TAUW NL)
TAUW has been actively monitoring its energy consumption and business travel, including the associated CO2 emissions since 2014, which forms an important basis for our focus on sustainability, reducing the impact on the environment and our carbon footprint. TAUW’s environmental management system is certified according to the CO2 performance ladder (level 5) and ISO14001. In 2022, TAUW Group initiated an overview of the overall GHG emissions, based on the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), to further reduce our environmental and climate impact.
Our offices were used less frequently during COVID and the ‘new normal’ has been integrated into our HR policies and business, resulting in slightly lower energy usage, although business travel increased when lockdowns were lifted. TAUW encourages the use of public transport, and our fleet will be further electrified in the coming years. By 2022, 60% of the company cars was fully electric. Based on these initiatives TAUW is on track to achieving our ambitious scope 1, 2 and 3 CO2 reduction targets for 2023.
CO2 emissions TAUW in tons per year
Direct emissions (scope 1) from business travel by company cars and combustion of natural gas in the buildings.
Goal: by 2023 TAUW will emit 50% less CO2 per FTE compared to 2019.
Indirect emissions (scope 2 and 3) from electricity consumption, business travel by airplanes & private cars and waste.
Goal: by 2023 TAUW will emit 20% less CO2 per FTE compared to 2019.
Sustainable mobility and vitality
Where in 2021 we focused on our electric lease policy, in 2022 we took a broader perspective and looked at mobility as a whole. In addition to paying a higher allowance for the use of electric instead of diesel cars, we also promoted cycling and walking as a sustainable and healthy alternative to travelling or commuting. Building on from our experiences during the pandemic, we set up a hybrid working protocol. Every TAUW location has a work from home policy and TAUW Netherlands has further developed the protocol to include suitable work equipment, such as adjustable desks and chairs.
Sustainable use of materials
In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we have committed to the sustainable use of materials. In our key activities – soil remediation, soil surveys and groundwater projects – we are already using sustainability indicators in every phase of the remediation process, assessing not only on the obvious indicators such as health & safety and remediation costs, but also on participation, carbon footprint, impact on biodiversity, impact on reputation and increase in site value.
Where possible, we apply nature-based technologies, such as the use of micro-organisms, plants and natural materials and processes, to minimise the environmental impact. We aim to reduce waste and limit the use of energy, materials, chemicals to a minimum. These are some of the measures we take:
- Optimising project planning to reduce the journeys needed for field surveys
- Replacing our vehicle fleet with electric cars and vans
- Using sustainable and biodegradable soap to clean drilling equipment
- Using biodegradable sounding pipes
CO2 emissions in tons per year
Natural gas consumption
Electricity usage
Fuel consumption private cars for business traffic
Fuel consumption of lease cars for business traffic
Purchased heat
Fuel consumption business air travel
Waste
Total emissions 2022
CO2 (ton/fte)
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Endorsements and Certificates
We support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the UN and we aim to integrate the goals relevant to our work in every aspect of our operations and services. We are active members of the Network of Industrially Co-ordinated Sustainable Land Management, and operate under the international ISO standard 18504:2017 for Soil. Our Soil unit has taken measures to reduce our negative impact on the environment, some of which are listed above.
At local level, we have made a number of endorsements, for example to alternative transport, sustainable mobility and we support biodiversity initiatives, such as the Bouwerzzz foundation and charities such as Trees for All. Last year TAUW Group planted 2,500 trees in Spain, the Netherlands and Ghana.
Financial results
2022 was a challenging year with economic uncertainty, market volatility, geopolitical tension and construction work postponements and cancellations due to governmental regulations in our largest market, the Netherlands. Against the backdrop of these developments, TAUW Group has continued its journey as an employee-owned, purpose-driven company. Turnover levels grew by 3% to EUR 146.6 million. During the year, TAUW Group invested significantly in the future-proofness of the company despite the short-term impacts on profitability.
Turnover
(in mEUR)
2021: 143
EBITDA
(in mEUR)
2021: 10.9
EBITDA
(in % of Turnover)
2021: 7.6%
Solvency
(equity ratio in %)
2021: 44.2%
Number of
employees
2021: 1.242
‘”TAUW Group’s foundation and financial position for executing our purpose-driven strategy is stronger than ever. With our passionate employees we will continue to support our clients with their current and future sustainability challenges.”
– Remco Vaanholt, CFO TAUW Group