IdealPlanet: preserve the environment

Reduce the carbon footprint and the consumption of energy, natural resources and waste

Edenred aims to improve its energy efficiency thanks to its environmental management system based on the principles of the ISO 14001 standard.

Since 2013, the Group has been committed to reducing its GHG* emissions, particularly those related to its energy consumption. In 2021, its direct carbon emissions per surface area were reduced by 46% compared to 2013.

By turning to digital media such as cards, smartphones and online platforms, Edenred is able to reduce the impact of its activities on paper resources. At the same time, Edenred is committed to using FSC-certified paper (from sustainably managed forests) or recycled paper in the production of its vouchers in 20 subsidiaries (representing 92% of the business volume of subsidiaries with paper vouchers).

The Group is committed to improving the energy efficiency and carbon footprint of its data centers with an objective to reduce their PUE (power usage effectiveness). To do that, Edenred has an increased usage of virtual servers and seeks to constantly optimize the use of energy; As from 2022, some 36% of Edenred’s data centers are consuming renewable energy, with an average PUE of 1.37.

Design eco-services

The Group encourages new forms of sustainable mobility by developing low-carbon services and solutions. 

In 2022, Edenred launched "Move for Good", a global sustainability program enabling its transport and mobility clients to mitigate their environmental impact, while promoting the preservation of biodiversity. It is structured around 4 pillars:

1. Raise awareness, by providing clients with a 360 vision on fleet data, thus enabling them to understand, track, and reduce their GHG* emissions.
2. Reduce and avoid, by encouraging the use of mobility options that minimize carbon emissions (such as electric of bioethanol vehicles).
3. Offset: up to 100% of GHG* emissions can be through third-party certified projects, such as avoided deforestation, or methane recovery.
4. Preserve, by supporting local initiatives for biodiversity or recovering degraded areas.

Edenred USA's Commuter Benefits solution allows American employees, since 2017, to use different means of transportation (bus, subway, bicycle) instead of their own car.

In 2020, Edenred France launched a card for employees to facilitate home-to-work travel and support the transition to more environmentally friendly mobility. With their Edenred account, any employee can easily buy a bike, carpool or use self-service soft mobility (bicycles, scooters, car sharing).

Edenred also pays special attention to food waste as part of several initiatives.

In 2019, Edenred formed a new partnership in Chile with Karübag, a company that uses vermicomposting to treat and recover organic waste from offices, homes, restaurants and other places. Since its launch, over 36 of Edenred’s corporate clients have joined the Karübag initiative.

Framheim, a startup specialized in the fight against food waste, sent a questionnaire to some 180,000 Edenred partner restaurant owners in France to find out more about their anti-food waste practices and define their commitments. Since this 2018 survey, 400 establishments were awarded the label in 2019.

In Austria, Edenred launched a partnership with the organization Too Good To Go in April 2019 to encourage partners and employees in Edenred’s network to fight against food waste. Other Edenred countries, such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, also teamed up with the startup since 2021. 

The Ticket EcoCheque solution, created in 2009 in Belgium, promotes products and services that respect the environment. It encourages more responsible purchasing in various fields, including food, lifestyle, furniture, and transport.

Managing the impact of solutions during their lifetime

Edenred solutions are increasingly dematerialized. The eco-design is also one of the priority areas of Edenred's environmental policy. The Group carries out Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies in its countries to assess the environmental impact of its products. The first was carried out in 2017 to compare the impact of paper and that of the card for the Ticket Restaurant solution. The results underline that the card is more virtuous: it generates almost two-thirds (64%) less greenhouse gas emissions than paper vouchers.

When paper cannot be replaced, subsidiaries are encouraged to use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or recycled paper for the production of their tickets. In 2021, 20 subsidiaries (i.e. 92% of the volume of paper vouchers) are following these recommendations, limiting their impact on the timber industry.

In addition, the Group was the first to set up a card collection and recycling system within its French subsidiary. When their card expires, the beneficiary receives a new one, along with the procedures for returning the old one to encourage recycling. The old card is ground by an Edenred partner using an entirely mechanical process (environmentally friendly), and the materials obtained (98% plastic, 2% metals) are used to manufacture new products.

Long-term Group’s commitments

* GHG = Greenhouse Gas. 2020 total emission for point sources = 3,432 t.
** Targets calculated using the Science Based Targets initiative methodology.