CH BYG's data-enhanced CO2 strategy with BeWo
Case study
Construction.
Introduction
CH BYG is a dynamic construction company specializing in the restoration and renovation of existing buildings. Liam Donaldson, responsible for the company's sustainability strategy, shares their experiences with implementing BeWo's CO2 engine to enhance their sustainability efforts.
"It is our firm belief that sustainability efforts strengthen our market position, especially with customers who prioritize sustainable initiatives in their construction projects."
– Liam Donaldson, Sustainability Manager at CH BYG
Challenge
Sustainability reporting and CO2 accounting for Scope 3 emissions proved to be a significant challenge for CH BYG. As a construction company working with a wide range of suppliers and various construction projects, it was essential to obtain a detailed and accurate overview of all their CO2 emissions.
Scope 1 and 2 emissions were relatively easy to manage with direct readings from fuel and energy suppliers. However, Scope 3, which amongst other includes indirect emissions from suppliers and waste management, was much more complex.
Their previous attempts to break down the chart of accounts to prepare a cost-based Scope 3 account proved to be inefficient and very time-consuming. The administrative burden was substantial, and it was clear that a more robust and automated solution was needed to achieve an accurate CO2 account.
CH BYG also needed to stay ahead of upcoming regulatory requirements, which will demand more comprehensive and accurate sustainability data. They also wanted to be able to document their sustainability efforts to both customers and stakeholders more easily.
Many of CH BYG's customers, including municipalities, regions, and state-owned companies, required detailed descriptions of the company's sustainability profile in connection with tenders. Therefore, it was necessary to be able to refer to a credible and comprehensive ESG report to win contracts and strengthen their market position.
Ch BYG needed a tool to provide them with
Precise CO2 Calculations
They needed accurate and reliable data to measure and report their CO2 emissions.Regulatory Compliance
Preparation for future environmental regulations.Efficient Data Management
Handling large amounts of data without overburdening the administrative team.Improved Decision-Making
Using sustainability as a competitive parameter and integrating it into all business decisions.
“BeWo has enabled us to focus specifically on our largest sources of emissions, which we have been able to identify accurately through their platform.”
The implementation of BeWo's CO2 engine was a thorough process where CH BYG's existing systems were adapted to ensure compatibility. This included integration with their financial system, e-conomic, and setting up BeWo’s automated data collection and calculation. There was a strong focus on:
Data collection
BeWo's AI solution helped automate ‘invoice reading’, reducing manual errors and optimizing the process. This ensured faster and more efficient data collection.Collaboration
Throughout the implementation phase, BeWo worked closely with CH BYG to fine-tune the system, ensuring an accurate and precise climate report.
"Collaboration with the BeWo team made the implementation simple and seamless. They have been incredibly helpful throughout the entire process." – Liam Donaldson, Sustainability Manager at CH BYG
Implementation
Time Savings
Significant reduction in time spent on data collection and reporting compared to manual methods.Improved Accuracy
Increased accuracy in CO2 calculations, providing a clear understanding of emissions.Measurable Insights
Identification of major CO2 emitters, which has informed their decisions on procurement and supplier selection.Automated Reporting
BeWo's platform has enabled CH BYG to work with real-time data and integrate sustainability into their daily operations.Decision Support
Data from BeWo has supported CH BYG in making informed decisions about their procurement and sustainable alternatives.
By using BeWo’s CO2 engine CH BYG has achieved
Result
The results CH BYG has achieved with BeWo have supported their climate strategy moving forward. Particularly through the calculation of their Scope 3 emissions, they have been able to define all the action areas they need to work on to achieve their reduction targets.
They have found that 74% of their total emissions come from category 1 in Scope 3, which includes purchased goods and services, and 15% come from category 5, which covers waste generated in operations.
Therefore, they have now chosen to focus even more on optimizing both the sources of their building materials and their waste management, where they currently have 24 separate fractions of waste sorting. At the same time, they are accelerating their transition to electric vans, as they also aim to improve their Scope 1 emissions.
"With the BeWo system, you can get daily updates, so you can continuously monitor the development of the company's Scope 3 emissions and keep track of whether the implemented policies and operational changes are having the desired effect."
– Liam Donaldson, Sustainability Manager at CH BYG
The implementation of BeWo has provided CH BYG with a clear understanding of their CO2 footprint and helped integrate sustainability into their business processes. With this overview of their CO2 emissions, it is now easier to plan future reductions in their environmental impact.
CH BYG has also set impressive and ambitious ESG goals for the future. They plan to reduce their Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% compared to 2022 and their Scope 3 emissions by 30% compared to 2023. Additionally, they aim to increase the proportion of women in their workforce from 15% to 30% and reduce employee turnover from 30% to 10%. Finally, they aim to increase their employee satisfaction score from 6.4 to 8.5 out of 10. All these targets are set to be achieved by 2030.
"BeWo has opened the door to efficient ESG reporting. We can now get an accurate Scope 3 account without breaking the bank or investing a lot of man-hours to perform the calculations manually."
– Liam Donaldson, Sustainability Manager at CH BYG
