2.2 Sustainability strategy

Our strategy and progress to date

In 2021 we developed our first 4-year sustainability strategy to take us out to 2025. The strategy set out our six focus areas, including targets and the underlying action plans to achieve them.

We have made considerable progress to date and remain on track to deliver on the majority of our key targets. Along the way we have achieved a number of significant milestones and it is with this momentum we will begin our strategy refresh process in 2024.

In May 2024, we will release our new 2025 – 2028 business strategy, including our updated sustainability ambitions.

Sustainability is at the core of NRC Group’s strategy, and it is embedded in our company’s values, and the way we work. The impact of our work extends from the local level to the wider society.

NRC Group is in the business of constructing and maintaining sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Most of our projects are specifically designed to enable efficient and low carbon mobility and transport solutions, such as railway, light rail systems, subways and metro. Our future growth will be driven by how effectively we capture the long-term value opportunities associated with the favourable investment landscape for sustainable infrastructure in the Nordic region. This opportunity is underscored by the national infrastructure budget proposals and national transport plans in Norway, Sweden and Finland.

We are focused on reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions and are working to create infrastructure that enables our clients to do the same. Our business is committed to meeting the Paris agreement climate goals by reducing our own emissions and those in our supply chain. We are aiming to achieve a credible net zero position by 2050. We will pursue these emission reductions by shifting our heavy vehicle fleet to biogas and other renewable fuel sources, electrifying suitable equipment, and implementing operational efficiency measures to reduce the idling time of machinery. Of all our emission reduction efforts, we will focus most of our attention on practical and proven technology and behaviour change.

We also see clear opportunities to unlock positive biodiversity outcomes and improve environmental and social performance. Due to the nature of our business assuring a safe and healthy working environment for our employees, sub-contractors and partners is our number one priority. Our focus is not only on reducing the risks in the workplace, but also on implementing preventive measures that contribute to our people’s health and well-being.

NRC Group is committed to the highest ethical business standards and respect for the inherent dignity of people and their inalienable rights. In working closely with our value chain and local communities, our due diligence approach ensures that we meet our human rights obligations and adhere to high social and environmental standards.
We believe we can develop business critical competences and skills through our training and development programmes, and by emphasizing diversity, we can create an inclusive and innovative workplace. All of these factors contribute to the sustainable solutions we are building every day, together with our partners and clients. The way we build human capital and develop our capabilities as a learning organisation is key to creating a common culture within the business, which is embedded in sound sustainability principles.

The way we build human capital and develop our capabilities as a learning organisation is key to creating a common culture within the business, which is embedded in sound sustainability principles.

Our sustainability framework is based on our core competencies and most material impacts. These material impacts were identified in the materiality assessment undertaken in 2020 are reviewed annually.

The framework sets out how we operate to achieve our sustainability targets, which contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The strategy is focused on six core impact areas:

• Building a low carbon future
• Improving environmental performance
• Providing a safe and secure workplace
• Emphasising diversity and equal opportunities
• Training and developing our people
• Ensuring ethical business practice

Our sustainability strategy is brought to life in our operations and the way we work every day. We are actively building our sustainability competence as we develop our unique internal sustainability culture. We set clear targets and aim to empower our customers and partners to reach theirs.