7 February 2024
In the climate rating compiled by the global environmental organisation CDP, APG|SGA has reaffirmed its leadership status and has once again been awarded the strong grade of A- for 2023. APG|SGA is implementing a wide range of measures to achieve its own climate and environmental targets and has been documenting its progress for over twenty years.
In the environmental organisation CDP’s annual rating of the transparency and quality of climate action reporting, APG|SGA was awarded the excellent grade of A- for the second year running in 2023. Despite the ever-increasing demands of the CDP standards, APG|SGA was able to confirm its leadership status and even improve its overall score. This improvement can be attributed, amongst other things, to a greater focus on the supply chain, as well as to the analysis of climate risks in the context of scientific climate scenarios. The positive assessment reflects the targeted implementation of APG|SGA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.
Markus Ehrle, CEO of APG|SGA, is delighted: “In 2023, we published our twentieth sustainability report and took part in the CDP’s climate change reporting for the seventh time. Our efforts have paid off. This long track record and our latest top result demonstrate that we provide our stakeholders with transparent information and that APG|SGA operates sustainably. In 2024, too, we will live up to our pioneering role and continue step by step on our path of continuous improvement.”
APG|SGA’s commitment to climate action
Net zero: APG|SGA has set itself ambitious climate protection targets and aims to halve its net CO₂ emissions by 2027 compared with 2017, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.
100% green electricity: APG|SGA uses only ‘naturemade star’ green electricity generated from Swiss hydropower or solar power from its own PV systems at its Zurich and Lausanne sites.
More environmentally friendly buildings: Energy efficiency in these buildings was improved in 2023 through roof and façade refurbishments at various sites. Further building works are planned for 2024.
Greener products: The switch to more energy-efficient technologies (e.g. LED) is leading to continuous improvements in the APG|SGA product portfolio. In 2024, the focus will be on dialogue with suppliers to achieve emissions reductions across the supply chain.
CDP raises the bar every year
Using a comprehensive questionnaire, the CDP assesses annually whether companies are effectively contributing to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels. The disclosure and assessment process of the non-profit organisation CDP is recognised as the ‘gold standard’ for transparency in environmental performance and corporate responsibility. The CDP uses a detailed and independent methodology to assess participating companies and rates them on a scale from A (best result) to D-. This takes into account criteria such as the completeness of disclosure, awareness of and management of environmental risks, and the implementation of best practices relating to environmental leadership, alongside the setting of ambitious, meaningful and evidence-based targets. The standards set by the CDP questionnaire are further developed and raised each year to ensure that even highly rated companies are required to demonstrate continuous improvement.
Further information
The assessment methodology and criteria can be found on the CDP website at: https://www.cdp.net
The 2022 Sustainability Report, as well as information on APG’s corporate responsibility strategy, can be found here: https://www.apgsga.ch/de/ueber-uns/verantwortung-nachhaltigkeit/