Environment

Climate change is expected to worsen the frequency, intensity and impacts of extreme weather events. Without action we will see detrimental changes to the world we live in.

RWS and its colleagues are committed to helping prevent the impact of global climate change by transitioning to carbon net zero.

Read our Environmental Policy

We are committed to:

  • The reduction of our Group-wide carbon emissions
  • The ongoing improvement of our environmental management systems globally
  • Complying with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable environmental legislation, approved codes of practice and any other requirements not codified by law to which we subscribe
  • Cooperating fully and maintaining positive relationships with all regulatory authorities
  • Supporting the environmental goals of the Group’s clients

Energy and greenhouse gas report

As part of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirement, RWS is required to report its energy and GHG emissions within its Directors’ Report.

As part of the development of our science-based targets, and as a result of switching to an enhanced software platform, we decided to recalculate our FY22 footprint to ensure consistency in measurement and methodology. 

Methodology

Emissions were calculated following the GHG Reporting Protocol (Corporate Standard) using the Watershed platform. Energy usage data was collected or estimated based on building square-footage for all facilities, and was combined with emissions factors from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ecoinvent, Technical Compliance Rate (TCR) and other data sources to calculate GHG emissions. Electricity emissions factors are chosen based on geography to reflect the emissions intensities of the facilities’ local grid.

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Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD)

Recognition of climate-change impacts and the need to act proactively is increasing. The hottest recorded June, July and August was experienced in 2024 for the eleventh consecutive year and, if action is not taken by all, these changes will become long lasting. RWS has the desire to lead by example. This is evidenced by it becoming a signatory of the TCFD before it became mandatory and achieving SBTi approval of its science-based targets in FY24, ensuring that RWS can support the achievement of keeping global temperature rises to 1.5°C or less. 

Following our decision in 2021 to start reporting in line with TCFD early, these disclosures include our actions taken to date to align our climate risk disclosures with the TCFD recommendations. Doing so will enable our stakeholders to understand the ways in which climate change is affecting our business now, and in the future, as well as the steps that we are taking.

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CDP Disclosure

CDP is a non-profit global disclosure system that helps companies and cities measure and manage their environmental impacts. CDP uses a standardized questionnaire to collect data on greenhouse gas emissions, water management, forests, and other sustainability-related issues. Companies and cities that participate in CDP report their data publicly, enabling investors, customers, and other stakeholders to see how well they are managing their environmental impacts.
RWS’s CDP scores

RWS Climate Change Statement

At RWS, we believe the science is clear – anthropogenic climate change is real and the effects are already being seen and felt globally. As an international organization, we acknowledge our responsibility for our part in this crisis and we welcome our role as a world leader in climate risk mitigation.

Globally, we have set the following goals:
  • Continue to deliver positive results in working toward the RWS science-based targets, aligned with and approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) 
  • Carry on as an industry leader in compliance with regulatory structures including TCFD, SASB and others
  • Increase our commitment to nature-based solutions to reduce our carbon footprint
RWS is a world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content management and intellectual property services, and our people are key to our success. Together, we leverage our knowledge and expertise to implement creative, effective, workable solutions.