Driving Decarbonization at Envu: A Q&A With Marine Sanouiller, Head of ESG

Q: Why is Envu building a decarbonization plan?

A: Decarbonization is crucial for Envu because we recognize the significant impact of climate change on our world. A decarbonization plan is vital to the long-term sustainability and resilience of the planet along with our business and the people we serve. It's a commitment to our customers, investors and employees to act responsibly and do our part to proactively address climate change. This plan, which includes 2050 net-zero targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), will be disclosed in our 2024 sustainability report, released in 2025, marking a key milestone in our ESG journey.

Our 2023 Sustainability Report outlines our baseline Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Notably, our asset-light operating model, meaning that we do not own manufacturing facilities, results in 90% of our total emissions falling under Scope 3. Scope 3 emissions include all indirect emissions that occur in a company's value chain, such as those associated with purchased goods and services, business travel, and the use and disposal of sold products. This highlights the importance of robust supplier carbon footprint measurement and collaboration on emissions reduction plans.

Q: What impact does climate change have on Envu systems and operations?

A: As an environmental science company, we understand the interconnectedness of healthy ecosystems and human well-being. Climate change poses a direct threat to the balance we strive to protect. Over the long term, it will significantly impact key customer segments. For example, agricultural land use may be affected by shifting weather patterns. Golf courses may need to integrate conservation practices and adapt to changing water availability. The demand for vector and pest management products is likely to increase due to rising temperatures, creating new challenges and opportunities for our business.

Q: What are the top priorities for the decarbonization plan, and how do you plan to achieve them for Envu?

A: We are focusing on several key initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint:

• ●Sustainable procurement: Engaging our suppliers is vital to addressing our Scope 3 emissions. Partnering with SbTi and low carbon intensity suppliers is a key portion of our decarbonization journey.
• ●Transitioning to electric vehicles: We are proud to have transitioned 48% of our European fleet to electric vehicles in 2023, significantly reducing fuel consumption from nonrenewable sources. We continue to assess further opportunities to expand this initiative globally.
• ●Optimizing energy consumption: By reshaping our data storage infrastructure, we achieved a 25% reduction in our greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint associated with data storage between 2022 and 2023. A GHG footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by an organization, product or event. Office energy efficiency is the next topic we will tackle to further optimize energy efficiency.
• ●Product carbon footprint: Products that may look similar can have very variable Green House Gaz footprint, depending on their respective ingredients, supply chain or packaging for example. Understanding these differences better, is a key step of our journey. We are conducting LCAs on selected solutions to gain a deeper understanding of their environmental impacts throughout their life cycle. LCAs involve a detailed analysis of a product's environmental impact from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. This will inform product development and help us create more sustainable offerings.

Q: How is Envu seeking partnerships with customers and suppliers to achieve its decarbonization goals?

A: Partnership is at the heart of our approach. We believe that achieving meaningful progress in decarbonization requires collaborative effort across our value chain. With our suppliers, we are building a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This includes promoting responsible sourcing, ethical practices, and the integration of environmental and social factors in our procurement decisions. However, decarbonization doesn’t happen overnight. Recognizing this, we have already started partnering with our suppliers to identify actionable steps to reduce their respective GHG intensity.

In addition to supplier partnerships, we recognize the pivotal role customers play in achieving our decarbonization goals. Envu strives to Be a Force With Nature by working collaboratively with customers to find solutions that support their own efforts to reduce environmental impact. We are committed to informing customers about our sustainability initiatives and exploring opportunities to partner on projects that promote a more sustainable future for everyone.

For example, we recently highlighted the positive impact Envu products can have on rangelands worldwide by restoring the carbon sequestration potential of native species in ranges and pastures. In addition to reducing the GHG intensity of our operations, we will continue to explore ways to help our value chain partners make a meaningful difference.

Q: What are some of the challenges ahead in our decarbonization journey?

A: While we are dedicated to our decarbonization goals, we recognize the complexities and challenges in achieving them.

• ●Scope 3 emissions: Addressing our Scope 3 emissions will require significant effort and collaboration with our suppliers. While we have leading innovations, we are a relatively small player in the market, which can limit our influence on supplier practices. However, our commitment to sustainability and strong track record in product stewardship — which refers to managing the environmental impact of our products throughout their life cycle — make us a valuable partner for those who share our vision.
• ●Data collection and measurement: Accurately measuring and reporting emissions across our value chain requires robust data collection systems and processes. We are continuously improving our data management capabilities to enhance transparency and inform our decision-making.
• ●Technological advancements: Reaching net-zero emissions will depend on the development and implementation of innovative, cost-effective technologies that are not yet commercially mature. We are staying informed about emerging technologies and exploring partnerships to accelerate their adoption.

We believe that by acknowledging these challenges, fostering collaboration and continuing to invest in innovation, we can overcome these hurdles and achieve our decarbonization objectives.

Q: Finally, on a personal level, it seems that you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. What attracted you to this role and what do you most enjoy about it?
A: Sustainability is not just a professional focus for me — it’s also a personal passion. I have a relentless “never give up” mindset and deeply enjoy leading a diverse team toward a common vision and challenging the status quo.

What attracted me and still excites me most about this role is the opportunity to align our company’s goals with broader societal and environmental benefits. Our purpose statement, “advancing healthy environments for everyone everywhere,” is deeply meaningful to me and I can see every day that it is for my Envu colleagues too. I feel very fortunate to work with a team of passionate intrapreneurs at Envu who are seeking to collaborate, both internally and externally, to make a difference.

I truly believe in the power of business to drive positive change and, correspondingly, that businesses should aim to be a force for good for the environment and for the communities we serve. If my work can help Envu to become that type of enabling force, I can’t think of any role that would be more fulfilling.