Boston, MA – November 20, 2024 – Aquent, a global work solutions company, announced today that it has achieved carbon-negative status. This accomplishment marks the culmination of four years of dedicated efforts to integrate sustainable practices and strategies into company operations, including transitioning to a virtual-first work model in 2020 and developing and operating a series of renewable energy projects across the Midwest.
“Reaching carbon-negative status has been a collaborative effort that spans every level of our organization,” says John H. Chuang, Founder and CEO of Aquent. “Aquent sets a powerful example of what is possible in climate action when embracing sustainable practices. Going beyond just carbon neutrality and offsets and embracing initiatives that truly have a positive impact on our global community is essential and must become common business practice across all industries.”
Aquent's carbon-negative status presents a significant advantage for clients striving to meet their own sustainability targets. Partnering with Aquent enables companies to make substantial progress in reducing their Scope 3 emissions, which encompass emissions from a company's value chain. This not only helps our clients enhance their environmental performance but also positions them as leaders in their respective industries. In today’s climate-conscious marketplace, aligning with a carbon-negative partner like Aquent demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. This collaboration simplifies their emissions reporting and strengthens their sustainability credentials, enhancing their brand reputation and attracting environmentally conscious customers and investors.
Aquent’s extensive track record of climate-friendly initiatives dates back to 2020, when the company made the decision to transition to a virtual-first workplace, eliminating 170,000 square feet of office space across more than 30 locations worldwide. This transition reduced commute-related carbon emissions by more than 80 percent.
Embracing remote work also led to a 72% reduction in purchased electricity and natural gas (Scope 2) emissions. Other contributing factors to Aquent’s carbon-negative status include replacing inefficient technologies with more climate-friendly systems and migrating cloud storage to a facility powered by renewable hydroelectric energy.
In 2022 and 2023, the company rolled out six solar farms, deliberately choosing to build them in coal-heavy states like Indiana and Ohio, which generate higher rates of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour. Several more large-scale projects are in the pipeline. These sustainability initiatives represent a 500% increase in Aquent’s carbon offsets, paving the way for the company to erase its entire historical carbon footprint from its founding in 1986.
“We are committed to not just erasing our 38-year carbon footprint, but having a sustained positive impact on our environment by investing in a number of large-scale clean energy projects,” said Chris Bambacus, Director of Social and Environmental Responsibility at Aquent. “By becoming one of the first in our clients' supply chains to go carbon negative, we are also creating a ripple effect—reducing our impact, in turn, lessens our clients’ carbon footprints.”
Aquent is also broadening its impact through its Aquent Sustainability division, launched in April 2024. Aquent Sustainability pairs the company’s own expertise in transitioning to sustainable initiatives with their decades of experience in staffing, recruiting, consulting, and professional services to help clients achieve and exceed their own sustainability goals. Aquent Sustainability guides clients in building strong in-house Sustainability Teams and consults on best practices to help clients scale their sustainability efforts. For more information about Aquent Sustainability, click here.
About Aquent
Aquent is the leading global work solutions company helping guide businesses toward the talent, technology, and services they need to excel. From specialty recruiting and talent experience to creative strategy and project management, Aquent is making the future of work better for everyone. Its brands include Aquent Talent, Aquent Studios, Aquent RoboHead, Aquent Sustainability, Aquent Scout, Aquent Gymnasium, Aquent Employer of Record, and Aquent Plus. To learn more, visit aquent.com.
Media Contact: Anna Grace Thompson – annagrace.thompson@pinkston.co or (571) 429-2482
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