Planet

Material topics

Reducing our impact on the environment to build a more sustainable and resilient future.

Our commitments

Decarbonization

Become a net-zero carbon organization by 2040
Achieve 1.5°C science-based target (50% emission reduction) by 2030.

People of KPMG

“Climate change is an urgent challenge that requires immediate action from businesses to safeguard both our planet and their future. With regulatory pressure, such as the CSRD, demanding transparency and accountability, companies should act now. Concretely, businesses must understand climate-related physical and transition risks and opportunities and develop climate transition plans to ensure long-term resilience in an increasingly unpredictable world. KPMG in Belgium leads the way with ambitious internal decarbonization targets, while also guiding our clients through this challenge.”

Kobe Geryl
Senior Manager Advisor, KPMG in Belgium

Reducing our impact on the environment

External impact

The accelerating impacts of climate change are not only reshaping our natural world but also driving profound economic transformations. As global awareness intensifies, businesses face mounting pressures to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. Commitments to achieve net-zero emissions and reduce environmental footprints have become pivotal, reflecting both regulatory demands and societal expectations.

Organizations across industries are proactively preparing for a low-carbon future, recognizing that sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern but a core strategic imperative. The resilience and integrity of supply chains are under scrutiny, as environmental risks and resource dependencies demand more sustainable practices. Meanwhile, corporate boards are exerting significant pressure to address environmental issues with urgency and accountability, embedding sustainability into the fabric of business governance.

At KPMG, we use our expertise in climate change and decarbonization to help clients integrate environmental goals into their strategies, driving progress toward low-carbon futures and sustainable success.

Internal impact

At KPMG, our greatest strength isn’t what we make: it’s our people. As a result, our direct environmental footprint is relatively small. While topics such as energy consumption, decarbonization, water use, and waste management may not be significant concerns for our company, we still recognize our responsibility to evaluate the impact of our operations. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and supporting global decarbonization efforts.

We are dedicated to helping achieve the global 1.5°C science-based target outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 12). This involves minimizing our climate impact through sustainable resource use and emissions-reducing actions. Our commitment to sustainability and lowering harmful emissions reflects our vision for a greener future:

Since October 2023, we have switched to a fully electric fleet, no longer renewing leases on fossil fuel vehicles;
We promote alternative mobility options to reduce our carbon footprint and support eco-friendly transportation;
Our offices follow sustainable practices to minimize ecological impact, prioritize renewable energy, and focus on efficient waste and water management.
We also emphasize responsible choices in our business travel policy, aligning with our commitment to sustainability and our ESG framework.

Reducing our impact on the environment

Our GHG emissions in figures

Thanks to various actions taken over the past few years, we have observed a decrease in our overall CO2 emissions from FY23 to FY24. This reduction is primarily driven by a significant decline in Scope 1 emissions, with 640 electric cars now integrated into our fleet of 1,748 vehicles, an increase of 308 EVs, plus an additional 331 electric cars on order (see also Scope 1 emissions section below). Scope 3 emissions have also dropped, partly due to targeted policy changes such as eliminating flights for distances under 400 kilometers and restricting business class travel (see also Scope 3 emissions section below). Additionally, over 96% of our total energy consumption continues to come from renewable sources, keeping our Scope 2 emissions consistently low (see also Scope 2 emissions section below).

While progress has been made, overall CO2 emissions have not yet decreased compared to our FY19 baseline, largely due to the continued growth of our organization, including nearly doubling our workforce over the years. Despite this, we are actively working to decouple the effects of growth from our emissions.

Through a combination of internal communication campaigns, employee incentives, and policy changes, we’ve already observed positive behavioral shifts across our workforce. More professionals are embracing sustainability measures and adopting alternative mobility options, driven not only by awareness efforts but also by the structural changes in how we operate. While the full impact of these efforts will take time to manifest, the encouraging trend towards a more sustainable mindset is already evident. This ongoing transformation will continue to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future in the years ahead.

Scope 1 emissions

Compared to our FY19 baseline, we have seen a noticeable decrease in Scope 1 CO2 emissions, particularly from our company cars. This reduction is largely due to a policy implemented on 1 October 2023, which made all vehicle options in our fleet fully electric and prohibited new leases or renewals for fossil fuel vehicles. While the impact of this transition wasn’t evident last year, it is now clearly visible: marking a significant step forward in our commitment to reducing direct emissions and promoting sustainable practices (see also Our GHG emissions in figures section above).

Scope 2 emissions

Our Scope 2 CO2 emissions, which stem from indirect sources such as purchased electricity, heating, and cooling, have remained significantly low over the past four years due to our sustained commitment to renewable energy (see also Our GHG emissions in figures section above). As a result, Scope 2 emissions have accounted for only a small portion of our overall CO2 footprint in recent years. Unlike fossil fuel-based electricity, renewable energy produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions during generation, supporting our long-term sustainability goals and reducing our environmental impact.

Scope 3 upstream emissions

Compared to our FY19 baseline, we have achieved a small reduction in Scope 3 CO2 emissions, particularly in areas linked to purchased goods and services, as well as business travel. This decrease results from targeted policy changes aimed at significantly reducing travel-related emissions (see also Our GHG emissions in figures section above). Additionally, we have scaled back our reliance on external service providers, further contributing to lower emissions associated with purchased goods and services. These strategic decisions reflect our commitment to minimizing our indirect environmental impact across the value chain.

Our commitments in action

Greening our fleet

Given its crucial role in cutting CO2 emissions, transitioning to a greener fleet remains a priority. Our goal is to fully phase out fossil fuel vehicles and achieve a 100% electric fleet by the end of 2027: progress that’s already reflected in our FY24 data emissions (see also Our GHG emissions in figures section above).

As of 1 October 2023, all vehicle options in our fleet are fully electric, and KPMG no longer allows new leases or renewals for fossil fuel vehicles. To further support this transition, we’ve expanded our charging infrastructure, with 719 charging stations (144 private and 575 shared) now installed across our offices in Belgium: a significant increase from last year. Additionally, where possible, we offer home charging installations for employees who choose an electric vehicle as part of their remuneration package.

These bold steps highlight our commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction, reinforcing our vision for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Promoting alternative mobility

Alongside our ongoing shift to a more sustainable fleet, we continue our commitment to promoting alternative mobility options to further reduce our carbon footprint. By 2025, we aim to increase our use of alternative transportation for commuting by 10%.

We actively encourage our professionals to embrace alternative mobility solutions for both commuting and business travel, and we’re seeing more professionals choose these options. These choices, such as trains, trams, buses, and bicycles, are all integrated into our Flex Reward plan, allowing individuals to personalize their benefits to fit their needs.

The Legal Mobility Budget was introduced in 2023, providing another flexible option for our people to manage their mobility. In FY24, 91 KPMG professionals opted for the Legal Mobility Budget instead of a company car.

KPMG welcomes around 230 graduate new joiners each year. To encourage them to explore alternative mobility, we offer the opportunity to try a 1-month SNCB/NMBS train subscription for free.

Our flexible compensation system is simple and transparent. At the start of each year, we project the year-end premium, which is then integrated into our Flex Reward plan and made available to our people in January. Throughout the year, our people can allocate part of this premium towards alternative mobility solutions. Popular options include bike leases and using the Olympus Mobility app.

We also provide a financial incentive for every day an employee selects a sustainable mode of transport, further encouraging the use of alternative transportation. This incentive is in addition to their existing budget, allowing them to recoup part of their initial investment in sustainable mobility.

Working from home

Options like working from home and working from anywhere (up to 20 days per year) also positively influence our professionals’ travel habits, in addition to the alternative mobility solutions we offer. To ensure our people have the tools they need to succeed, our professionals can purchase screens, headsets, and keyboards through the Reflex system to enhance their home office setup.

Sustainable facilities and renewable energy

We are committed to reducing our CO2 emissions and making a positive environmental impact through thoughtful design, location, and operation of our buildings. Our efforts go beyond environmental sustainability, as we also aim to enhance the work experience and conditions for our people by creating natural work environments. Our “Post-X” office in Antwerp, a passive building, and our “Passport” office in Brussels, which holds a BREEAM Very Good certificate, exemplify this commitment. BREEAM, a globally recognized sustainability assessment method, acknowledges high-performing buildings throughout their lifecycle, from construction to in-use and refurbishment.

To further our sustainability goals, we actively encourage building owners to use 100% renewable energy and we are proud to report that over 97% (2.671K) of our total energy consumption (2.747K) comes from renewable sources. Additionally, we’ve invested in the future of transportation by installing 719 charging stations for electric vehicles, with the electricity sourced primarily from renewable energy. We also implement smaller yet impactful measures, such as sensorcontrolled lighting in our offices, reminders in our bi-weekly internal newsletter on how our people can support energy-saving efforts, and, when possible, making working from home mandatory on Fridays and closing the offices following a public holiday on Thursday.

Waste management

We are committed to responsible waste management and continuously strive to improve our recycling practices to minimize waste across all our offices. By focusing on small, practical changes, we aim to create a lasting, positive impact. Simple actions, when consistently applied, can lead to significant cumulative benefits.

To support this, we’ve implemented centralized waste bins on every office floor, accompanied by clear sorting instructions to encourage proper recycling of paper, cans, plastic, batteries, and glass.

We also ensure specialized recycling streams for items like BEBAT batteries, toner cartridges, and metal coffee capsules. In line with our commitment to material reuse, we donate used office chairs to students and repurpose old laptops. Starting in spring 2025, we will replace disposable coffee cups with reusable ones for all professionals: a small change with a big environmental payoff. Additionally, we continue to run internal awareness campaigns to promote better recycling habits, which have already contributed to a slight reduction in residual waste.

While our overall waste volume remains stable, influenced by office occupancy levels, initiatives like the shift to reusable cups will drive further positive change.

Business travel

Understanding the environmental impact of business travel, we are committed to reducing CO2 emissions by rethinking how, when, and why we travel. Our approach focuses on integrating sustainability into our travel decisions, prioritizing low-impact transportation options, and challenging traditional business travel habits to better align with our environmental goals. This shift not only supports our sustainability commitments but also encourages a more conscious travel culture within our organization. To turn this commitment into action, we introduced significant changes to our travel policy (see also Our GHG emissions in figures section above).

Upon evaluation, we observe a decrease compared to the FY19 baseline. While we’ve implemented measures to reduce the frequency of business trips, such as promoting virtual meetings as a low-carbon alternative, we have noticed an increase in work-related travel in recent years, driven by growing business demands and a larger workforce.

Procurement collaboration: driving sustainable impact

At KPMG, we recognize procurement collaboration as a cornerstone of our sustainability policy and strategy. By working closely with our suppliers, we aim to ensure our supply chain aligns with our values and contributes to our broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. In 2024, we took significant steps to assess our suppliers using EcoVadis and Sustainalytics methodologies, achieving notable progress in transparency and accountability. The assessment was based on four main pillars: Environment, Labor and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. By making sustainable procurement a core part of our operations, we strive to create a positive impact on the environment, society, and the economy, while driving long-term value for our firm.

KPMG rating	KPMG score	EcoVadis	Sustainalytics
A (Excellent)	>80	Platinum	Negligible
B (Very Good)	70-80	Gold	Low
C (Good)	60-70	Silver	Medium
D (Satisfactory)	50-60	Bronze	High
E (Unsatisfactory)	<50	-	Severe

Why procurement collaboration matters

By embedding sustainability into our procurement processes, we not only reduce our environmental footprint but also foster stronger partnerships with suppliers who share our commitment to responsible business practices. This collaborative approach ensures:

Alignment with global sustainability standards;
Enhanced transparency and accountability across the supply chain; and
A focus on long-term value creation for both KPMG and our stakeholders.

Our supplier assessments are a critical step in driving sustainable impact, and we remain committed to expanding this initiative in the years ahead.

Additionally, once a year, a training session is hosted by KPMG in Belgium for all of its suppliers to ensure their understanding of KPMG’s social and environmental issues and their integration into the procurement function.

We continually assess our buying needs to reduce demand and consume less and by embedding circular economy principles into our procurement processes, we encourage the reuse and recycling of materials. Through our procurement strategy and the inclusion of CSR criteria in our tenders and evaluation process, we promote fair labor and ethical business practices, mitigate reputational risks, and support diverse and local suppliers. This not only helps reduce transportation emissions but also boosts local economies. Furthermore, we expect all vendors to adhere to our Supplier Code of Conduct, which requires them to assess the carbon footprint of their products and services.

Prioritizing environmentally responsible purchasing will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize waste.

Examples of projects implemented:

Introduction of Sustainable Hygiene Products across KPMG offices in Belgium:
All dispensers made from recycled plastic;
Collection of used hand towels for recycling;
CO2 neutral production of products;
Hand towels and toilet paper made from 100% recycled cardboard