Since 2019, Contraste has been involved in a group-level programme for the evolution of its practices and services towards a more sustainable world, both in ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).  

United Nation Global Compact

In 2019, Contraste began participating in the United Nations Global Compact programme https://unglobalcompact.org/, and since then we have published an annual communication on our progress and actions in this area.  

Contraste Europe has issued a very strict internal policy on the correct application of these principles 10 principles that participants at the UNGC must abide by.  

 

Human rights 

 

1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights  

2. Businesses make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses

 

Labour 

 

3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining 

4. Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour

5. Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labour 

6. Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation 

 

Environment 

 

7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges 

8. Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility 

9. Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologie 

 

Anti-corruption 

10. Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery

Ecovadis 

From 2022, we have embarked on a certification journey with the Ecovadis organisation https://ecovadis.com/, and our first rating, carried out in March 2023, placed us in a favourable 45%-65% green band. This is an encouraging first step, which calls on us to continue our efforts, in particular by developing more precise measurements (metrics) on various indicators.  

ISIT 

Finally, in April 2023, we signed up to the ISIT (Institute for Sustainable IT) Charter https://isit-be.org/, confirming our proactive commitment to ESG and SIE. 

Business practices reflected our ESG comitment

Indeed, our business practices have reflected, since our inception, a strong concern for business ethics, respect for human rights and equity, and an interest in ecological and sustainability issues.   

These also include, but are not limited to, the following :

- We are included in a significant number of public contracts that require a clean business ethics record: no fraud, no attempts at bribery, no complaints from our employees or ex-employees about discrimination or disrespect for human rights, rigorous management of GDPR rules;  

- Active waste management and recycling policies: decommissioned IT equipment is either distributed free of charge to schools or recycled in an environmentally friendly way, waste is sorted daily;  

- We avoid all forms of waste, reducing lighting or heating when not needed;  

- We are following the legal and regulatory recommendations to move our vehicle fleet to electric.  

These issues become an important element in the professional advice and IT services we provide to our customers, and in the choice of technical architectures. For example, we recommend the data virtualisation solution offered by our partner Denodo, which not only brings significant economic benefits and enhanced security, but also has a very significant positive impact on energy consumption and carbon footprint. 

Contraste Europe's ESG-DEI programme is supported by our Board of Directors and will therefore become increasingly important within our group in the coming years.