ZS recognizes that the future of business is entwined with the future of our planet. With the urgency of climate change at the forefront of global concerns, ZS is committed to taking meaningful steps to reduce our carbon footprint and lead by example with our clients, suppliers and fellow professional services agencies. Through comprehensive efforts, including refining our emissions reporting methodology, setting an ambitious net-zero goal and forging partnerships focused on sustainability, ZS is dedicated to driving positive change within our communities.
None of this would be possible without the motivation of our people. ZSers like John Kenneally, sustainability manager in San Francisco, are committed to using their expertise to improve the health of our planet—and already driving meaningful change.
Where passion changes lives
John joined ZS with a wealth of experience from the consulting world and a solid engineering background rooted in energy reduction and green financing projects. This laid the foundation of his passion for sustainability and, over the years, allowed him to transition from technical projects to a more strategic role in corporate sustainability. Today, he is dedicated to helping ZS measure its environmental footprint, ensuring our goals are science-based and aligned with global best practices.
“There is an obligation as a company to ensure the information you're sharing in environmental spaces is as accurate as possible.” John says. “Coming from the consulting side of ZS, our skills in solving data analytics and optimization problems were highly transferrable. We are able to identify the right sources of data and understand how to improve upon it over time.
For example, John played a pivotal role in reanalyzing ZS’s 2019 environmental reporting—our baseline year for analyzing our greenhouse gas emissions—to align with the latest global standards and best practices. This work established a baseline comparison of the environmental impact ZS is striving to mitigate but also enhanced the accuracy of our current data collection methods.
Our commitment to accuracy is why we had our latest emissions audited by an independent third party, which earned us a ISO 14064-1 certification. This global standard ensures that a firm’s methods for calculating emissions are reliable, transparent and consistent with international best practices. By earning and sustaining this certification, we can effectively track progress against our climate targets. It allows us to assess and mitigate our environmental risks and share a precise climate profile with our clients. We can actively engage with our suppliers in their emissions reduction strategies and take intentional actions to progress our overall climate strategy.
A priority for us right now is to actively reduce our Scope 3 emissions. In reviewing year-over-year data, John has found that nearly all ZS’s emissions are Scope 3—or indirect emissions that occur along our value chain. We can reduce these by supplier engagement and behavioral changes, especially when it comes to activities like business travel.
Face-to-face interactions with our colleagues and clients are important to us, and finding sustainable modes of travel is a major focus area in our strategy. ZS has rethought how we organize large meetings and events, emphasizing sustainable practices such as using ground transportation with electric vehicles and strengthening our aviation sustainability efforts.
One example is our partnership with United Airlines, an air carrier that has been at the forefront of providing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to several major airports in the United States. SAF is an alternative fuel source that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 85% on a life cycle basis, compared to standard fuel. As an Eco-Skies Alliance partner, we are supporting continued growth in the SAF market, giving travelers, including many ZSers, a more sustainable option when flying. This will further our commitment to reducing emissions while still delivering exceptional service to our clients.
"Reducing our carbon footprint goes beyond any professional goal for me—it’s a shared mission we must continually embrace. The job’s not done until we achieve net zero, then I can retire,” John says with a smile. “Seeing ZS take significant strides in sustainability, from refining our emissions reporting to actively supporting emerging initiatives like SAF, fills me with pride. It’s rewarding to be part of a company that doesn’t just talk about sustainability but genuinely works to walk the walk, leading by example to make a tangible impact.”
Because of John’s leadership and our firm’s overall commitment to environmental sustainability, we’ve seen a 20% decrease in total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, compared to 2019. We look forward to seeing the total number of emissions continue to decrease as we near our 2045 net-zero target.
Stay connected with us on social media to learn more about how we're advancing our environmental goals to mitigate climate change. If you're passionate about sustainability and want to be part of a team that's driving meaningful change, explore our open positions and join us on this important mission.
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