How we began our climate journey
To move forward, we looked at the footprint we left behind
Starting over
The concept of climate change has evolved into a climate emergency, and we believe that the health of our planet is everyone’s responsibility, as business or private citizens. To better understand our own environmental footprint and be more accountable, we have started our climate journey by tracking and measuring our own emissions following the standards set out by the GHG Protocol. We recognize that this is an exercise that will continuously improve and are committed to refining our methodology over time.
Becoming carbon neutral
We achieved our carbon neutral status by compensating for our environmental footprint through carbon credits, which directly fund climate action projects. Our environmental footprint is calculated following the GHG Protocol and complies with South Pole’s Climate Neutral label.
All material emission sources are covered. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are calculated using data from our offices across the world, reflecting how we heat and cool our offices along with the electricity we use. Scope 3 emissions are calculated based on mileage (air travel, ground transportation), data center energy use, hotel stay duration, spend on purchased goods, and outsourced activities. To push boundaries, we decided to extend Scope 3 with the energy use from our products: the transactions our merchants’ shoppers carry out on POS terminals, online and mobile payments.
Ranging from the energy used to charge our computers, to the miles we travel when visiting our merchants or other offices – all material emission sources are covered. Carbon neutrality was achieved by measuring our greenhouse gas footprint and compensating through carbon credits, to then reach net-zero emissions.
Now having these valuable insights, we are committed to reducing our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and offsetting those we cannot yet eliminate.
The measure for our greenhouse gas emissions is tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (tCO2e) — covering the six greenhouse gases defined in the Kyoto Protocol by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These six gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perufluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
Scope 1: 231 tCO2e
These are emissions from sources owned or controlled by us – such as gases used to heat our offices
Scope 2: 2,212 tCO2e
Scope 2 emissions cover indirect emissions, such as purchased electricity for our buildings. To make it tangible: when charging your phone at one of our offices, these emissions tie into scope 2
Scope 3: 15,792 tCO2e
These emissions stem from activities that are not directly owned or controlled by Adyen - think of air travel and hotel stay duration
Our contribution to climate projects
With environmental sustainability comprising a key component of responsible business practices, Adyen is committed to further reducing and compensating for our global footprint. We see our sustainability strategy evolving towards a multifaceted approach where supporting critical climate projects is just one component of our broader plan. In the past, we have supported climate projects in collaboration with a third party. Going forward, we recognize the need to continue evolving our approach to project selection based on industry best practices while staying grounded in science.
TIST Program
Empowering subsistence farmers in Uganda
Farming for the survival of an individual or family, also known as subsistence farming, is commonplace throughout the majority of rural communities in Uganda. Via education-focused projects, the International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) aims to break the cycle of deforestation, drought, famine, and poverty by empowering populations reliant on subsistence farming via education-focused projects. These projects empower and train local farmers in their reforestation and agricultural efforts — for example, by educating on how to plant trees for maximum protection from runoff and erosion, and simultaneously conserve water and stabilise soil to increase crop yields. In terms of building sustainable livelihoods, participants in the TIST Program receive stipends from the sale of carbon credits based on the GHG benefits created by their efforts.
Kariba
Reforestation and wildlife protection on the shores of Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe
The Kariba project protects forests and wildlife in four national parks around the shores of the Zimbabwean Lake Kariba, conserving what is left of Zimbabwe’s majestic forests after decades of political and economic turbulence. A biodiversity corridor that protects an expansive forest and numerous vulnerable and endangered species is constructed. The project also supports regional sustainable development and promotes the independence of local communities by providing healthcare, clean drinking water and education on project-related activities such as agricultural practice, beekeeping, and borehole maintenance. The project further strives to improve gender equality, with over 40% of partakers in Kariba’s training programs being female.
Jacundá
Rainforest conservation and wildlife protection in Jacundá, Brazil
The Jacundá project protects 35,000 hectares of the Amazon’s native rainforest and established over 95,000 ha of the Amazon as protected lands. Additionally, workshops on biodiversity monitoring enable local communities to establish a supply chain of non-timber products such as acai and Brazil nuts. This non-timber supply chain directly contributes to the prevention of CO2 being released into the atmosphere and thereby conserves the native forest ecosystems. With 130 residents working in the project and the organization of workshops on health and family planning, the project adds to the overall wellbeing and economic growth of the community of Jacundá.
Luz del Norte
Generating solar energy in Northern Chile
Reaping the benefits of Northern Chile’s abundant sunshine, the Luz del Norte Solar Park generates solar energy and transmits it to the central Chilean energy grid, replacing fossil fuel-generated power with a clean alternative. Besides that, the Luz del Norte project employs over 350 – thus improving local economic activity.
Mytrah
Wind energy in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, India
The wind energy project Mytrah replaces fossil-fuel-fired electricity with electricity generated from wind farms on the Indian grid. The wind energy is generated across several wind farms and supports local communities by providing employment, access to clean drinking water and education. The Mytrah project also strives to improve gender equality by educating women and girls on gender rights and personal health. Adyen’s contribution resulted in the generation of 2 megawatts of wind energy.
Vietstar
Sustainable waste treatment in Củ Chi, Vietnam
Sustainable waste treatment and composting avoid large scale methane emissions in the Vietstar waste treatment project. As a result of our investment, the disposal of 30,824 tCO2e of organic waste was prevented and hundreds of jobs were created in operating the waste treatment plant. Moreover, the waste treatment and composting produces sustainable compost - which is distributed among local farmers, enhancing the quality of local sustainability and agriculture practices.
