June 5 was World Environment Day (WED), an annual event which Accenture commemorates each year aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.

In alignment with its slogan every year, everywhere, everone; WED is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.

Highlights

Corporate citizenship is fundamental to Accenture’s character and the way we run our business; it is reflected in the actions of our people. We work to make a sustainable difference in the long-term vibrancy and vitality of people and communities around the world. This year WED highlighted the different initiatives Accenture established in the Netherlands over the last year:

• Plugwise smart energy management system: We have installed a smart energy management system from Plugwise and have increased energy efficiency in our ITO office. Plugwise is a system that measures energy consumption and has the capability of automatically switching appliances and lighting on and off. With this measure we prevent unnecessary power use.
• LED Lighting: We have replaced energy-wasting lighting with environmentally responsible LED light bulbs and LED lighting products on the 17th floor and roof terrace at ITO.
• Equitrac: With the introduction of Equitrac we have leveraged our print management and have reduced wasted paper and toner.
• Smart Challenge: Watt can you save?: Accenture employees are participating in an energy saving contest. Every participant has received a Wattcher and has started saving energy at home.
• JoinThePipe: Through the charity organization Join the Pipe, we have installed a water pump on the roof terrace of ITO and we sell reusable water bottles at the office restaurant to raise awareness of the environmental impact of mineral water and disposable cups.
• Electric Vehicles: We have introduced 13 fully electric lease cars (Nissan Leafs) at the beginning of June 2011.  Switching to electric cars signifies the entry into sustainability by saving fuel and using a more efficient and eco-friendly fleet operation. Two additional electric cars will function as pool cars.
• Cradle-to-Cradle office furniture: By cooperating with the company ForNature, we have guaranteed the return of our corporate fixtures and furnishing for re-use and recycling.
• Dyson Airblade Hand Dryers: On the 16th floor at ITO we have installed energy efficient hand dryers in the restrooms, replacing the paper towels that create waste. We cannot install them on other floors unfortunately due to the sound level.

These initiatives are important, and they have minimized employee and individual impact on the environment in the office, at home, and while commuting—and they will continue to do so. These efforts have been recognized by ICT business magazine Computable, who have shortlisted Accenture in the category ‘Corporate Social Responsibility ICT organization’ of 2011. Anyone can vote on the website of Computable until September 16th.

For more information visit Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship practices or http://www.unep.org/wed/index.asp.