Our approach to sustainability
We exist to keep the wheels of industry turning – right across Europe. That is our purpose. We are committed to delivering sustainable long-term value for our customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
As Europe’s leading distributor of industrial products and services, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to reduce the environmental impact of European manufacturing.
As we strive to limit the impact we have on the environment, we have taken a number of steps to address our own carbon footprint, reducing energy consumption and waste.
Our sustainability mark
The sustainability mark is a tangible demonstration of Rubix’s commitment to driving progress towards our targeted environmental UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 7, Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 9, Industry, innovation and infrastructure; SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production; and SDG 13 Climate action.
This effort is amplified by our work to support customers’ sustainability performance, where we can have a much greater impact overall.
ESG report: FY 2023
Covering the 2023 financial year (1 January – 31 December), our latest report sets out our progress on environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics and reconfirms our commitment to supporting Europe’s green industrial transition.
It provides details on how we are: supporting customers; enhancing our own operations and engaging our people; and working with suppliers.
Opening the report, Group CEO Franck Voisin writes: “Market leadership is a great privilege. But it’s about more than just commercial opportunity; it means that we’re in the ideal position to help reduce the environmental impact of European manufacturing.”
2023 TCFD report
Our third report addresses the 11 TCFD recommendations, with disclosure on how climate-related issues are embedded across governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets. In support of this we conducted our third iteration of climate-related scenario analysis to evaluate Transition and Physical risks and opportunities against multiple climate scenarios.
Read our 2023 TCFD report in the annual report and accounts.
Scope 1 and 2 limited assurance report
For the second year in a row, we have the pleasure to share that our Scope 1 and 2 emissions have been subject to limited assurance by Carbon Calculated, a third party carbon accounting auditor.
We continue to remain committed to provide relevant, complete, consistent, transparent and accurate environmental data, in line with the five principles of GHG accounting, and having our emissions assured showcases this to all our stakeholders.
EcoVadis
In 2024 we retained our gold EcoVadis rating, which we achieved for the first time in 2022. This places us in the top five per cent of companies rated by EcoVadis
The full report by EcoVadis on our business is available here.
2023 CDP report
We are committed to disclosing our management of climate-related issues openly and transparently. As part of that commitment, we were the only major privately-owned industrial distribution businesses to respond to CDP in 2021. CDP is the world’s leading environmental benchmark, backed by investors with US$130 trillion in assets.
Since then, we have continued to respond to CDP’s climate change questionnaire. We were pleased to achieve an improved score of B in the 2023 assessment, up from a C score in 2022. This places us ahead of the global average score, as well as the Trading, Wholesale, Distribution, Rental & Leasing sector average, which both stand at C.
Helping our customers on their sustainability journeys
Our products and services include different ways that we can help our customers on their sustainability journeys, reducing cost and wastage and maximising energy efficiency.
These include a wide range of condition monitoring and maintenance services that support our customers in their efforts, reducing the energy consumption of their manufacturing and processing plants.
For example, air pressure leakage is causing 14% energy consumption waste across the manufacturing sector. We can help our customers to solve this problem.
Our code of conduct and ethics
We do our best to protect the environment and to limit the impact we have on it. This includes reducing our carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption and waste.
We are committed to meeting our responsibility for respecting and promoting human rights and to protecting our employees from all forms of discrimination. We do not tolerate any form of corruption and take a hard line to prevent abuse.
To read our code of conduct and ethics, please download it here.
Supplier code of conduct
We provide technical advice and specialist knowledge to our customers, applying solutions that advance their businesses in a sustainable and efficient way. We pride ourselves on operating with high standards of integrity and business ethics.
Our suppliers are an essential part of this approach and we ask them to share our commitment to regulatory compliance, human rights, business ethics and environmental responsibility.
The purpose of our supplier code of conduct is to ensure their engagement on these fundamental principles, and to ensure the commitment of their own supply chain.
Almost 95 per cent of our biggest suppliers have signed the code of conduct and we are in active discussions with the small minority that are outstanding. We regularly monitor compliance with the sustainability requirements of our code of conduct through independent third party assessors including EcoVadis.
We value our relationship with our suppliers and we are confident that the Code will make that relationship even stronger for the benefit of our customers.
To read the full supplier code of conduct, please download it here.
We support UN Global Compact
We aim to create a culture of integrity across the Rubix organisation in operating responsibly, in alignment with universal sustainability principles and take actions that benefit the society around us. In addition, we commit to pushing sustainability as part of our culture, with a view to reporting annually on our ongoing efforts.
To read our UN Global Compact report, please download it here.
Our people
We value the commitment of our colleagues and we recognise the importance of good working relationships and communication.
A formal human resources policy framework is followed throughout the Group. The framework includes a process of appraisal and development to ensure Group companies get the best from their people; emphasis has been placed on
career pathways with individual training and development programmes.
The Group operates internationally and therefore our employment practices are varied to meet local conditions and requirements. These are established based on the best practice for each market.
More information on the Group’s people policies is available here.
Report archive
ESG reports
Scope 1 and 2 limited assurance reports