The WSP logo. (Courtesy WSP)

This week, SustainableBiz looks at the ESG reports of Canadian engineering services company WSP Global, Alberta-headquartered fuel and petroleum products supplier Parkland, and U.S. home developer Tri Pointe Homes.

WSP Global

WSP Global is a professional engineering services firm headquartered in Montreal offering management and consultancy for the built and natural environments. It has over 500 offices located in over 40 countries.

Report highlights: A 39 per cent decrease in its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021 compared to a 2018 baseline. The company reduced its total Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 15 per cent in 2021, compared to its 2018 baseline. It managed to power its operations with 34 per cent renewable energy in 2021.

Emissions goal: Aims to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 market-based GHG emissions by 60 per cent by 2030 from a 2018 base year. Plans for a 40 per cent decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 15 per cent decrease in absolute Scope 3 emissions from 2022 to 2024. Simultaneously intends to reduce its upstream Scope 3 emissions by 30 per cent over the same timeframe.

Scope 1 and 2: Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions decreased 39 per cent between 2018 and 2021.

Scope 3: Scope 3 emissions decreased 12 per cent between 2018 and 2021. Accounts for about 89 per cent of its total GHG emissions. About 69 per cent of its total GHG emissions are from purchased goods and services.

Certifications: Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), BREEAM, LEED, BOMA, Beam Plus.

Third-party verifiers: Apex Companies, LLC for emissions verification.

DEI plans: Hiring a new global director role for inclusion and diversity, searching for an executive who self-identifies as a person with disabilities, Indigenous or as a member of a visible minority, program to encourage contractors and proponents to train and hire qualified labour and purchase resources from local Indigenous businesses.

ESG strategy: Writing a Climate Transition Plan and global renewable electricity strategy to achieve GHG emissions reduction and renewable electricity targets. Certifying its 2040 net-zero commitment under the recently published SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard. Source 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2040. Achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2040.

Read the full report here.

Parkland

Parkland is a fuel and petroleum products supplier and marketer, and convenience store operator based in Calgary. It owns, is licensed or branded to be a distributor for major fuel companies like Esso, Chevron, Pioneer and Ultramar. The company also has presence in the U.S. and Caribbean.

Report highlights: Equivalent of 15,000 cars taken off the road through the production of renewable, low carbon fuels. Having 30 per cent of its executive offices held by women. Formation of board-level ESG committee to guide sustainability governance.

Emissions goal: N/A. Requires data from studying its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions before establishing an emissions goal.

Scope 1 and 2: Parkland is conducting a review of its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions to establish an emissions baseline. Upon completing the review, it will investigate pathways for reducing its emissions and formalize specific emissions reduction targets in its next sustainability report.

Scope 3: Claims to be “committed to providing our customers with the products and tools needed to reduce their own carbon footprint for Scope 3.”

Certifications: Canadian offices located in Calgary and in Burnaby, B.C. are LEED certified.

Third-party verifiers: Verifying its greenhouse gas emissions goals based on the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and guidance from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Global Reporting Index (GRI).

DEI plans: Instituted Parkland’s first enterprise-wide, executive-led Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Council to support efforts to create a diverse workplace.

ESG strategy: Low-carbon projects across its businesses such as using its Burnaby refinery to co-process renewable feedstock into gasoline and diesel; collaborating on a pilot project in the Bahamas for a hybrid solar project dedicating 10 acres to a third-party-owned solar farm producing solar energy for the Martinique grid; and developing a strategy with more low-carbon options for customers and refining “sustainable aviation fuel” at its Burnaby refinery.

In French Guiana, it is collaborating in the development of a solar photovoltaic generating facility linked to a 20MW battery and a 20MW electrolyzer. This project is expected to produce 10MW during the day and 3MW at night for French Guiana’s power grid.

Read the full report here.

Tri Pointe Homes

Tri Pointe Homes is a U.S. home developer headquartered in Nevada with a presence in 10 states. An analysis by Builder says Tri Pointe Homes was the 18th-largest U.S. home developer in 2021 based on 5,123 closings.

Report highlights: Establishing a baseline for carbon emissions derived from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, diversifying its board of directors, and starting a new online health and wellness platform.

Emissions goal: N/A. Plans to set transparent disclosure regarding its current GHG emissions to use as a future benchmark.

Scope 1 and 2: Scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions increased from 2020 to 2021. Rose from 5,549 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2020 to 6,037 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2021, approximately a nine per cent jump. The report does not offer any details about the increases in GHG emissions.

Scope 3: Scope 3 emissions also increased from 2020 to 2021. Went from 1,270,327 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2020 to 1,568,298 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2021, a 23 per cent increase.

Certifications: LivingSmart program and use of third-party programs such as LEED, ENERGY STAR and Indoor airPLUS.

Third-party verifiers: Calculated its GHG emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard with an unnamed third-party.

DEI plans: Developed an event calendar and series of internal communications to team members intended to highlight certain events, topics and celebrations throughout the year that relate to diverse and underrepresented groups. Created a DEI&B-oriented index of questions within its employee engagement surveys to measure responses more effectively by gender, ethnicity and work group and implement action plans accordingly.

ESG strategy: Instituting environmentally protective methods of developing land such as a rock-crushing program onsite to reduce GHG emissions associated with hauling materials offsite, and reuse of native soils throughout the project site. Aligning its ESG strategy and priorities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Read the full report here.