5/ Sustainable Operations
Long-term sustainability of our operations is intrinsic to our success as a Group and enshrined in our vision and corporate values.
GRI: 2-22
Our strategy for sustainable operations is informed by the Group’s purpose and values; considers international regulations and best practices; incorporates good governance and sound risk management; involves developing and deepening of stakeholder relationships; and is aligned with the SDGs to support local development and address pressing global challenges.
Sustainability Strategy
GRI: 2-14/2-24
Sustainability Governance
We work to mainstream our strategic sustainability drivers with our core businesses and the value we create for our stakeholders. The Group employs a structured approach to management and implementation of our strategy, wherein the Board and Senior Management provide vision and policy direction, while the Sustainability and CSR function drives the agenda across the Group. Our business units and employees are the ambassadors, implementers, and drivers of our sustainability strategy; creating value for our stakeholders through every aspect of our operations. Reinforcing our commitment to sustainability as a key group fundamental, we appointed a new Chief Sustainability Officer during the year to take forward Expolanka’s vision for sustainable operations.
GRI: 2-25
Addressing global challenges: Minimising the impact of our operations
As a Group with a footprint in 4 continents and a flagship business in the logistics sector, minimising our environmental footprint is an inherent part of our sustainability strategy. We are also committed to proactive environmental action that addresses humanities greatest challenges, such as climate change. We champion efforts that mitigate climate change, including freight decarbonisation and environmental conservation, and pursue initiatives that help local communities develop and adapt to the challenges of a warming planet.
Expolanka’s Board-approved environmental policy incorporates global best practices in environmentally responsible behavior, resulting in a low-carbon strategy for the Group that aligns with our sustainability agenda. Our Group companies prepare action-plans that align with our low-carbon strategy, and report regularly on key areas such as energy management, waste management, emissions control, and environmental compliance. Our corporate disclosure and reporting against environmental indicators are based on a well-structured mechanism to track, measure, and monitor our environmental performance. Certifications and accreditations achieved by the Group and its subsidiaries are detailed in the section on Logistics.
GRI: 305-1/305-2/305-4/305-5
| 2022/23 | 2021/22 | |
| Gross GHG emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) (tCO2e) |
2,526.15 | 4,385.55 |
| GHG emissions (Scope 1) (tCO2e) | 893.726 | 961.00 |
| GHG emissions (Scope 2) (tCO2e) | 1,128.05 | 1,864.08 |
| GHG emissions (Scope 3) (tCO2e) | 504.37 | 1,560.46 |
| GHG emissions intensity per employee (tCO2e) | 0.79 | 1.58 |
| Carbon emissions reduction due to solar (tCO2e) | 471.16 | 396.03 |
| Trees planted (nos.) | 27,950 | 35,000 |
| Paper recycled (kg) | 10,191 | 20,247 |
| Country | Scope 1 | Scope 2 | Scope 3 | GHG Emissions (tCO2e) |
| Bangladesh | 2.898 | 35.049 | 55.802 | 93.750 |
| Belgium | 0.254 | – | 4.423 | 4.677 |
| Cambodia | 11.897 | 11.897 | ||
| China | 4.415 | 27.479 | 9.523 | 41.417 |
| EL-Salvador | 109.588 | 10.902 | 30.899 | 151.388 |
| Honduras | 148.254 | 12.827 | 20.635 | 181.716 |
| India | 122.275 | 313.632 | 122.751 | 558.659 |
| Indonesia | 16.684 | 19.879 | 9.244 | 45.807 |
| Madagascar | 7.698 | 1.274 | 0.330 | 9.302 |
| Pakistan | 0.585 | 0.027 | 0.612 | |
| Sri Lanka | 131.863 | 643.921 | 178.034 | 953.818 |
| Thailand | 8.423 | 2.745 | 0.73 | 11.899 |
| UAE | 49.462 | 12.305 | 23.835 | 85.602 |
| Philippines | 225.950 | 19.049 | 0.570 | 245.569 |
| South Africa | 65.376 | 3.208 | 0.494 | 69.078 |
| Hong Kong | – | 0.012 | 46.208 | 46.220 |
| Malaysia | – | 0.827 | 0.004 | 0.831 |
| Vietnam | – | 13.05 | 0.86 | 13.909 |
| Total | 893.726 | 1,128.054 | 504.371 | 2,526.152 |
Environmental performance of our operations, compliance with regulations, and our actions toward freight decarbonisation are disclosed and discussed in the business line review.
GRI: 413-1
Supporting local development: Community engagement
As a responsible corporation, our Group is committed to positively impacting the communities in which we operate. Giving back to our communities and supporting local development are close to our corporate ethos. We take a structured and long-term approach to identifying, supporting, or initiating projects that will have a significant effect on the lives of local communities.
The Global Goodness initiative
Our flagship business, EFL Global, continues to spearhead the Global Goodness initiative. The initiative promotes volunteerism and involvement of our teams, and supports development of communities and protection of the environment - in alignment with our overarching SDG priorities. The programme has successfully initiated and aided a number of large-scale, long-term projects across the countries in which we operate.
Our logistics business line review presents further information on EFL’s Global Goodness initiative.