3 keys to credibility: from a carbon report to action

We’ve all seen companies get stuck at the reporting stage of their sustainability strategy. While carbon reporting is essential, motivating businesses to take practical actions as soon as possible is fundamental to gaining credibility and getting all collaborators on board with the transition.

This article will guide you through three essential steps to ensure your clients’ sustainability strategy gains credibility, with practical examples from VPharma and Multipharma, two pharmaceutical cooperatives with pharmacies all over Belgium.

1. Conduct a carbon report for science-based actions

Carbon reports are an important first step because they provide a scientific perspective on which actions to prioritize. This ensures that the actions taken are based on concrete data.

VPharma, a cooperative with 60 pharmacies across Belgium, decided to integrate a carbon report into its sustainability journey using Tapio’s carbon management software. 

According to Grégory Van Roy, director at Gmedi-Vpharma, “Legislation such as the CSRD was the spark that spurred us into action, but the reasons for conducting carbon reports are multiple—from attracting and retaining talent to taking responsibility for the social and environmental impact that our company has on the communities where we operate.”

VPharma’s long-term vision exemplifies this approach. They started by raising awareness, followed by conducting a carbon report and a double materiality assessment. Their plan continues with actionable steps leading up to mandatory reporting for the CSRD in 2026.

2. Take concrete and visible actions as soon as possible

A key to gaining credibility is to take concrete and visible actions as soon as possible. This demonstrates to stakeholders that your company is committed to making real changes, not just producing reports.

Multipharma, a cooperative with 250 pharmacies and over 1,700 collaborators, exemplifies this principle. After finalizing their carbon report, they prioritized visible actions such as installing solar panels, partnering with Urbike for sustainable deliveries, and initiating a partnership to recycle outdated servers. These actions not only contribute to reducing their carbon footprint but also visibly communicate their commitment to sustainability to all stakeholders.

3. Train and motivate collaborators to become sustainability ambassadors

Long-term success in sustainability requires the engagement and collaboration of all stakeholders. This involves training employees and motivating them to become ambassadors for sustainability within the company.

To achieve this, Multipharma collaborated with Impact Valley, a start-up specializing in leveraging collective intelligence to drive transformation in companies. Together, they 

1. educated all employees on sustainability, ensuring everyone understood its importance and impact
2. identified employees with a particular affinity for sustainability to become sustainability ambassadors, aiming to have at least one in each department

This initiative helped create a culture of sustainability within the company, ensuring that the commitment to environmental responsibility is shared and upheld across all levels of the organization.