Better society
Our role in society
Our activities have an impact on the environment and society in which we operate
We recognize the challenges and risks inherent in our business activities, and take responsibility for managing and minimizing them. But to build a sustainable future, we need to do more than just reduce our own impact. Therefore, we also take a conscious look at how we can fulfill our broader societal role.
We offer opportunities to people distant from the labor market and work to integrate disadvantaged populations, we join the fight against climate change, and we join forces with our partners to share our knowledge and expertise to create a more sustainable society.
Our carbon footprint
The CO2 performance ladder is the sustainability tool to reduce our carbon footprint
Iris is committed to sustainable development and firmly believes that good performance can only be achieved if a balance is struck between Society, People, Organization and Customer - or in Iris language - BETTERNESS. An important principle in this context is to minimize our carbon footprint. The annual mapping of our carbon footprint allows Iris to monitor its emissions and take measures to reduce carbon emissions while making its operations more sustainable.
Iris Group SA has supported a range of climate projects with different impacts, including climate project + tree planting, clean drinking water, hydropower, improved cookstoves, wind energy and forest protection, as part of their commitment to address climate change.
7.170
Tonnes of COâ‚‚ reduced, removed or avoided
- 6 different projects
- Chile, Indonesia, International + Belgium, peru, Ivory Coast and Madagascar
- 2024 and 2025
Supported projects
Wind energy
Chile, ovalle
Hydropower
Indonesia, Asahan
Climate project + tree planting
international + Belgium, 1 t CO +1tree
Forest protection
Peru, Madre de Dios
Improved cookstoves
Ivory Coast, countrywide
Clean drinking water
Madagascar, Atsimo-Andreafana
1.350
Trees planted
- 1 project
- international + Belgium
- 2024 and 2025
Supported projects
Supported projects
Climate project + tree planting
International +Belgium, 1t CO2 + 1 tree
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Evolution of CO2 emissions
Emissions are decreasing, but not yet at the level of our reduction targets of 46% by 2030.
Our CO2 emissions, related to the energy used for our buildings, our vehicle fleet and our machinery on the construction sites, decreased slightly compared to last year. However, the current results do not meet our ambitions, partly because of the exceptional level of activity in 2023.
Sustainable collaborations - Iris Industry Solutions
General improvement except for Iris Industry Solutions
Most of our entities have seen a decrease in their emissions, thanks to the electrification of our vehicle fleet (50% of cars on the road are 100% electric) and a slight improvement in emissions related to our buildings. However, Iris Industry Solutions, responsible for 74% of the group's emissions (Scope 1 & 2), has seen a significant increase due to fuel use on construction sites due to an exceptional year.
Initiatives and technical constraints
With planned moves and investments in the coming months, such as the installation of a new HVAC system in the Geel workshop, we hope to further improve our performance. Current technical constraints make certain improvements difficult at the moment, but several initiatives to reduce emissions are being studied (e-CO2tainers or hydrogen group at IND) or are in the early stages (electrification of our commercial vehicles).
More comprehensive Scope 3
The calculation of our Scope 3 is progressing, gradually integrating our purchases, our waste and the commuting of our workers. Clearly, as with many service companies, most of our emissions are indirect (Scope 3). We are therefore planning to launch initiatives to improve our indirect impact (promoting sustainable commuting of our workers, partnerships with our suppliers, etc.).
Conclusion
Although progress has been made, further efforts are needed to achieve our carbon emission reduction targets.
Reducing our environmental impact
Our goals for 2030*
Businesses have a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and creating a resilient zero-emission economy.
Iris has already included targets related to climate change in its strategy. To ensure that targets are in line with the Paris climate agreement, the SBTi (Sciences Based Target Initiative) model is one of many initiatives that align emission reduction targets with the latest climate science. Iris decided to use this model to set its carbon footprint reduction ambitions. The SBTi model is one of the best known and internationally recognized methods for setting a carbon reduction ambition.
A Science Based Target (SBT) is a target that corresponds to the level of decarbonization deemed necessary to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. A target of 1.5°C has become the new norm.
Below is the SBT modeling for scope 1* and 2*, in line with current SBTi requirements. Under the new absolute reduction approach of the SBT, Iris has decided to reduce its absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46% by 2030 to be in line with the SBT.
* reference year 2019
For indirect CO2 emissions in scope 3* resulting from our activities with customers and suppliers, Iris will conduct a chain analysis to further reduce them and set concrete targets for 2030.
carbon offsetting
Iris is committed to decarbonizing its value chain through reduction measures. For the remaining greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1 & 2), IRIS made a financial contribution to support global efforts to achieve the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement.
 This was accomplished by contributing an allocated budget of 30,000€ in 2023 to Life Terra, a regional Belgian tree planting project in cooperation with a forest conservation project in Brazil as well as to distribute a contribution to a hydropower wind energy project in Indonesia. The projects are certified according to the CDM or VCS standard. This granted amount contributes to the avoidance, reduction and removal of emissions thanks to afforestation, forest protection and the use of renewable energy.Â
Through this contribution, IRIS NV supports various sustainable development goals such as prosperity, good health and well-being, clean drinking water, life on the land and climate action.
- Certified project: 'Life Terra tree planting project'
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