Company’s ESG report highlights global carbon reduction strategy, diversity and inclusion, and “Vision Zero” for environmental health and safety.
Vantage Data Centers, a leading provider of hyperscale data center campuses worldwide, has published its second annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report underscores the company’s commitment to upholding high standards in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance. Titled “A Global Vision. Locally Adapted.,” the report provides a comprehensive overview of Vantage’s accomplishments and progress towards its objectives across its 29 global data center campuses during a period of rapid expansion.
According to Chris Yetman, Chief Operating Officer at Vantage Data Centers, the company achieved remarkable global growth in 2022 while remaining dedicated to sustainability, inclusivity, and safety goals. Vantage maintains a unified global vision for responsibly developing its data center campuses worldwide, with the flexibility to adapt to the local communities in which it operates. The company is proud of its achievements thus far and looks forward to sharing future results with its customers, investors, employees, and all stakeholders.
In 2021, Vantage conducted a materiality assessment in collaboration with a third party to identify the top ESG priorities of its customers, investors, employees, utility providers, community representatives, and local governments. The results of this assessment formed the basis for the goals outlined in the ESG report.
Key highlights from Vantage’s 2022 ESG report include:
Environmental Stewardship:
- A comprehensive sustainability program: Vantage addresses global environmental and resource challenges by focusing on five strategic areas: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy, water, waste, and community.
- Net zero operational carbon emissions by 2030: Vantage is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. In 2022, the company completed its initial Scope 3 emissions screening, developed a roadmap with proposed interim reduction targets, and refined its data collection methodology. Vantage joined over 375 companies in signing The Climate Pledge, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to reducing its environmental impact.
- Adoption of cleaner diesel fuel: Vantage successfully implemented Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable diesel fuel, at its Cardiff campus. This transition significantly reduces the company’s greenhouse gas emissions, making tangible progress toward minimizing its carbon footprint. Vantage is actively exploring opportunities to expand the use of this biofuel based on market availability and costs.
Social Responsibility:
- Inclusive employee affinity groups: Vantage prioritizes inclusivity and values its employees globally. The company established new affinity groups, including the Black Employee Network, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Network, the Muslim Employee Association, and the Working Parents and Caregivers Network, in addition to its existing Women’s Leadership Forum. These groups provide communities where employees with shared identities or interests can connect and receive support.
- Nurturing future leaders: Vantage launched a Mentor Program, supported by its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Council, enabling senior leaders to mentor junior team members. Additionally, the voluntary JEDI Council experienced an 85% growth, underscoring the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
- Community engagement: Vantage remains dedicated to supporting the communities in which it operates. Throughout the year, the company and its employees engaged in service events, provided financial support for earthquake relief in Syria and Turkey, and partnered with AFCOM to offer an intern program.
Ethical Governance:
- Proactive risk management: Vantage initiated a third-party risk management (TPRM) program to enhance its understanding of vendor-associated risks. Complemented by the Executive Risk Council (ERC), which meets quarterly to identify potential risks and opportunities critical to Vantage’s strategic business goals, the company prioritizes global risk assessment and management.
- Engagement in public policy: Recognizing the influence of laws, regulations, and policies on energy, sustainability, land ownership, zoning, design aesthetics, and taxes, Vantage established a public policy team and a company-wide steering committee in 2022. These initiatives aim to advance the company’s development goals and foster community engagement.
- Safety as a priority: Despite a significant increase in construction hours in 2022 compared to the previous year, Vantage successfully reduced its Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) from .31 to .28. Additionally, the company launched the Vision Zero program, reinforcing its commitment to achieving ultimate safety on the job by striving for zero incidents.
For more detailed information and additional insights, you can download the complete 2022 ESG report [here]