“Adapt, innovate and reduce” is GAC’s response to the sustainability challenges facing us all. GAC wants to do well, and to do good wherever we can to make the world better, safer, cleaner and greener.
That philosophy is at the heart of our commitment to sustainability, reflected in the GAC Spirit as well as our Group Ethics, Compliance, and Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) policies.
GAC's Roadmap to Sustainability outlines the Group's commitment to "adapt, innovate and reduce" in its activities and engage stakeholders to create non-destructive, long-term value towards a sustainable future. Their economic, environmental, and social impact is evaluated, initiatives implemented as appropriate, and the effect of those actions assessed for alignment with our focus and progress towards our sustainability goals.
Our aim is to make real positive change in ourselves, while supporting and influencing change in others. Our goals are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and cover three main areas of impact, namely economic, environmental and social.
While all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals are important to us and our stakeholders, GAC has identified the areas where we can influence and create the most positive impact, and chosen the following 8 SDGs to focus on:
The well-being of our stakeholders has been, and always will be one of the primary areas of focus at GAC. From employees and their families to customers, suppliers, and future generations, GAC has a duty to assess the impact its activities and practices have on anyone affected by the organisation.
We have a responsibility to work proactively to reduce inequalities and ensure gender equality. On top of that, we see the immense value that diversity brings to an organisation. The society benefits from fair hiring, compensation and other practices that reduce inequalities; which all contribute to ensuring sustainable business by using every available resources. GAC recognises that gender equality is an ongoing challenge and is committed to work towards fair treatment for all.
With the increasing global demand for energy, GAC has taken steps to invest in cleaner, greener, more efficient energy sources.
Our commitment to sustainability starts with each employee in every office across the GAC world. We all have a role to play in changing our consumption patterns to reduce our impact on the environment. All GAC offices will ban single-use plastic by January 2022.
The GAC Group has a strong pioneering tradition. This includes looking ahead and taking responsibility for the impact our business has on the environment for the future. The Group is currently taking steps to reduce emissions and is committing to a Net Zero Carbon future. GAC is a member of the Global Maritime Forum’s Getting To Zero Coalition, an alliance of more than 140 companies from the maritime, energy, infrastructure and finance sectors working to accelerate the decarbonisation of shipping by developing and deploying zero-emission vessels (ZEVs) by the end of the decade.
Carbon emissions are classified under three categories, or “scopes”. To improve our emissions footprint and navigate our operations towards carbon neutrality, we will measure, manage and report on our performance for all three scopes.
Our first goal in our journey towards carbon neutrality is for all GAC companies measure and report their carbon footprint in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol by the end of 2022. Our goal is to be net carbon zero by 2050 at the latest.
Every GAC company will commit to implement an initiative related to Life Below Water. GAC is a member of maritime pollution reporting and mapping initiative Eyesea. Eyesea’s smartphone app enables users to submit geotagged photographs to report hazards and pollution in the open seas. Data collected is made available to the public, non-profit organisations and government bodies to conduct clean-up activities.
Our companies around the world take responsibility to create positive impact on local communities, and our people enjoy raising awareness and funds for worthy causes. Whether it is funding local projects, cleaning up waste, supporting children’s charities, tree planting, blood donations, helping the response to natural disasters, or raising money for maritime charities such as the Sailors’ Society, GAC employees take pride and joy in supporting community service projects and are fully immersed in the communities in which we operate.
We work with our customers to enhance and refine our ability to meet their needs and help them achieve their sustainability goals. This is at the core of what we do, embodied in our brand promise “Delivering your strategy.” and in our focus on SDG 17 - Partnership for the Goals.
GAC has embarked on our journey towards sustainability and are well on our way – but there is so much more that we can and must do. It will take hard work, commitment, and cooperation with all our stakeholders to do to succeed. While every individual can make a real difference, together we can learn from each other and make greater progress.
A Sustainability Working Group (SWG) has been formed to chart our sustainability journey and help colleagues throughout GAC world to turn their good intentions and ideas into verifiable actions. This team reports directly to the Sustainability Steering Committee to influence real change.
Underlying the Group’s commitment to a strong sustainability culture, the Chairman’s Sustainability Excellence Awards is a key initiative that recognises and rewards GAC companies which successfully implemented initiatives that make sustainability an integral part of their day-to-day activities. GAC UK won the inaugural Chairman’s Sustainability Excellence Awards in 2022 with GAC Sri Lanka and GAC Singapore as runners-up for their diverse range of sustainability projects.
Sustainability is integral to who we are and what we do, now and in the future. We promise to work towards a better tomorrow for the planet and people. It is also how we help our customers deliver their strategy.