Randstad’s core values are as applicable to the environment as they are to our business activities, and we believe that we have a part to play in meeting the challenges of global climate change. We regard it as our duty to reduce our impact on the environment, through active participation in efforts to conserve resources and adhere to local energy standards and regulations at a minimum. 
 
In 2009, we once again participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project. The improvements in our score reflect the significant efforts we have made to address environmental concerns. We continue to make progress in accurately understanding our carbon footprint globally, and it is our intention to make our responses public next year.  We began using 100% green energy at our headquarters in 2009 through a procurement agreement with Greenchoice, through which only energy wholly-generated through wind, water and solar power is supplied and used. This approach to energy supply is being investigated at the country level as well, with Randstad Belgium implementing green energy supply from July 2010.  
 
We are extending our commitment at the headquarters with the pilot installation of a wind turbine on the roof  of our building. The electricity generated by the turbine will be used to directly power the lighting for the building signage, and the pilot aims to explore future possibilities for reducing the amount of electricity we consume from the national grid. Indoors, we turned our attention to lighting as well, and replaced our fluorescent lighting with high frequency tube adaptors. This reduced our electricity consumption by over 30%, earning our headquarters eligibility for Greenlight certification. Greenlight is a European collective established to recognize companies that reduce energy consumption by at least 30% for over 50% of their lighting. The system has the added advantage of doubling the life expectancy of each tube, thereby reducing related waste.

We endorse the growing trend of sustainability in the supply chain, and applaud those of our suppliers who help us to purchase more responsibly, such as Desso, who exclusively supply carpeting for our offices around the world. As a global organization, a certain amount of business travel is integral to building and maintaining both strong internal and external relationships. However, staffing is primarily a local business. We are therefore able to limit business travel and endeavor to do so whenever possible, enhancing our international contact through alternative means, such as telephone/video-conferencing and online meetings. To ensure that we minimize our carbon footprint when we do travel, we have begun measuring our impact with the aim of reducing or compensating for it.