United Nations sustainable development goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Of the 17 interconnected SDGs, our solutions and services for the energy and infrastructure markets are directly aligned with three Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, we apply our knowledge and resources to help other areas of development: Life below water and life on land.

In line with our materiality assessment and full evaluation of the sub targets of each SDGs we have decided to focus on 5 of the 17 SDGs where we consider Fugro’s contribution most meaningful. The impact is related both to the services we provide (‘what we do’), and to being a good employer and a responsible company, managing our impact on the society and world in which we operate (‘how we do it’).

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Fugro provides site characterisation services for the development of a variety of clean energy resources, most notably for offshore windfarms, worldwide. And although the energy transition is gaining speed, fossil fuels will remain an important part of the energy mix for years to come. Our sustainable and innovative solutions enable clients to develop vital fossil resources in a safe and responsible manner, reducing their CO2 footprint and mitigating risks. In addition, Fugro focuses on reducing its own carbon footprint, most notably from its vessels, through a variety of innovations and programs and promotes the energy efficiency of its offices and assets.

Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Fugro’s site characterisation and asset integrity solutions ensure the safe and sustainable development and management of a variety of infrastructure assets. Fugro also contributes its expertise of subsurface conditions to infrastructure development and coastal protection initiatives to protect cities and communities from flooding and offers a comprehensive approach to water resources management. With our wealth of specialist resources and digital solutions we can readily support projects in areas of seismic activity, extreme weather, environmental sensitivity or urban or industrial complexity, and deliver data, analysis and advice needed to improve sustainable asset design and performance.

Fugro actively partners with governments, industry, research and development institutes globally and participates in standard setting organisations.

Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.

The sustainable management of ocean resources will require collaboration across borders and sectors through a variety of partnerships, and on a scale that has not been previously achieved. Fugro supports several initiatives that aim to fill the sizeable data gaps that currently exist in ocean knowledge. In 2021, Fugro signed a strategic partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the UNESCO. The agreement includes significant in-kind support from Fugro via loan of experts to the IOC-Secretariat in Paris for establishing and administering two key ocean science working groups. By the end of 2021, Fugro was invited to join the Ocean Decade Alliance an exclusive network of eminent partners of the Ocean Decade.

In 2016, Fugro envisioned a supercharged crowdsourced bathymetry program to support the global ocean mapping initiative, The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) to inspire the complete mapping of the world’s ocean by 2030 and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available GEBCO Ocean Map. The innovative approach involved using remote command and control technologies to collect valuable bathymetry data during transits to projects. Since 2017, Fugro vessels have generated more than two million km2 of high-resolution bathymetry for the project, an area equivalent to the size of Mexico.

Goal 15 Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

Fugro is actively involved in minimising the impact on terrestrial ecosystems and land degradation through flooding, through sustainable levee designs as well as our water management consultancy.

The need for sustainable management of forests and combatting desertification and halting biodiversity loss requires urgent attention to help minimise further global warming.

In 2021, Fugro has undertaken an impact assessment of its activities and resulting potential effects on biodiversity. These learnings are now used to develop further mitigating measures.

Fugro is actively engaging with its stakeholders by raising awareness among employees, clients, contractors and suppliers on this topic. Fugro contributed to the International Marine Contractor Association (IMCA) Recommended Code of Practice on Environmental Sustainability, which addresses marine biodiversity.