In May 2024, Accenture reached a significant milestone in its sustainability journey: achieving a Zero Waste certificate. Thanks to targeted efforts, the company successfully reduced residual waste at its Gare Maritime office to a maximum of 15 grams per day per employee or visitor. A key partner in this success was Renewi, which, through its subsidiary EcoSmart, supported Accenture in realising its sustainability ambitions, together with ISS Facility Services Belgium.

Silke Lepee, Environmental Lead Belgium & Luxembourg at Accenture, explains the path to Zero Waste.

"Sustainability is central to Accenture. Our environmental program focuses on three main goals: CO₂ reduction, zero waste, and water conservation. In January 2023, together with Renewi EcoSmart and ISS, we launched an initiative to raise awareness among our colleagues about the importance of waste reduction and proper sorting. A thorough waste audit was the first step, providing valuable insights into the types of waste we produced and helping our operational teams at ISS manage waste streams more consciously.

Based on this audit, we developed a targeted action plan. Thanks to the joint efforts of our employees and suppliers, we achieved our ambitious goal: generating a maximum of 15 grams of residual waste per day per visitor in our Gare Maritime office.

The crucial contribution of Renewi

Renewi played an essential role in this process, providing expertise, methodology, and continuous guidance. Through regular meetings, follow-up lists, and training, we remained focused. A highlight was the organisation of waste labs, where employees opened a residual waste bag and sorted the waste again. This gave them direct insights into how waste reduction works and left a lasting impression.

Additionally, EcoSmart supported us in discussions with suppliers to make packaging materials more sustainable.

The presence of Renewi on-site also facilitates direct dialogue: Accenture and ISS employees can immediately consult experts with their questions, fostering a strong sense of engagement. This awareness of waste can also be applied at home, among friends, or while traveling. The seed is planted in our office, but the impact extends much further.

Looking Ahead

In the future, we will continue striving for continuous improvement. Together with EcoSmart, we are exploring innovative solutions for hard-to-recycle materials, such as laptop sleeves and bags. Now that we have a detailed overview of our waste streams, we can respond to new challenges more quickly and take immediate action.

Additionally, we aim to collaborate with other organisations that prioritise zero waste. By sharing knowledge and experience, we hope to inspire other companies in their sustainable transition. We intend to carry out this awareness-raising work hand in hand with EcoSmart. This way, we contribute to a world where waste does not exist, and circularity becomes the norm."