2020-2021 Sustainability Report

Like all businesses, we experienced 2020 as a year unlike any other. We found ourselves venturing into new realms of technology, safety, and teamwork, constantly pushing our understanding of sustainability and our role in a quickly changing world. As 2021 dawned, we found we had weathered the uncertainty of the last year with our core values intact, and a better understanding of our responsibility in cultivating a better tomorrow.

Our Sustainability Report hightlights our performance related to environmental, social and governance issues from the last year.

2020-2021 Sustainability Report

In our Projects

KCB endeavors to minimize the impact of our operations on the environment, including the prevention of pollution to the land, water or air, and to integrate sustainability considerations in our professional practice. We can advise you on ways to eliminate, mitigate or remediate the environmental impact of your operations or facilities, and on opportunities to incorporate sustainable options into your projects.

See sustainability at work in our feature projects below:

  • HARVIE PASSAGE
  • GREENS CREEK
  • HIDDEN VALLEY

    • KCB integrates engineering, science and socio-environmental consultation to study, design, build and close projects in the mining, infrastructure and energy sectors. We retain local environmental consultants and international professionals to develop the most effective team for every project. We engage in community consultation and partner with local stakeholders, First Nations and Indigenous peoples to enhance local participation.

    Sustainable Infrastructure Design

    In an on-going effort to incorporate sustainability in our project work, we have become an Envision Qualified Company. Envision was developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, a non-profit organization founded by the American Council of Engineering Companies, the American Public Works Association and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

    We can rate your project’s sustainability according to the Envision rating system, a project assessment and guidance tool for sustainable infrastructure design. It is an objective framework of criteria and performance achievements that helps users identify ways in which sustainable approaches can be used to plan, design, construct, and operate infrastructure projects.

    Towards Sustainable Mining

    As a member of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), KCB participates in the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) program. Members with mining facilities commit to a set of guiding principles and report their progress publicly in an annual TSM Progress Report. These progress reports are externally verified every three years by approved Verification Service Providers (VSP) for transparency, and to build the public’s confidence in mining operations.

    KCB has a VSP and support team who are experienced Environmental Management Systems auditors and have a thorough knowledge of international and Canadian mining standards.

    KCB has been involved with MAC for many years, recently contributing to their Tailings Guidelines, and currently represented on the Environment and Science Committee.

    Carbon Neutral

    At Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB), we have a mission of Delivering sustainable solutions for the natural and built environment, everywhere. We are committed to sustainable practices in our projects, and social responsibility in our offices and in the community.

    Over the years, we have taken steps to reduce our carbon footprint across our operations. Initiatives include participation in local recycling programs, reduced paper consumption, energy conservation, and landfill waste reduction in our offices.

    Carbon Offsets

    In 2019, KCB partnered with climate and sustainable development experts, ClimateCare and Carbon Neutral, to offset our carbon emissions from predicted company air travel in 2020. In 2021, we were certified ‘climate neutral’ by ClimateCare for offsetting our carbon emissions from both air travel and those associated with our global operations.

    Through our partnership with ClimateCare, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but also investing in projects that improve the lives of communities around the world.

    Our portfolio of ClimateCare projects includes:

  • Aqua Clara Water Purification in Kenya, Africa
  • Burn Cookstoves in Kenya, Africa
  • Gyapa Cookstoves in Ghana, Africa
  • Bondhu Chula Cookstoves in Bangladesh
  • Wind Farms in India
  • Orb Solar Energy Systems in India

    • Delivering on Net-Zero

    Our commitment continues as we now look at how to join organizations around the world to deliver on a Net Zero commitment and further reduce our impact on the environment.