STT GDC builds on its inaugural report and achieves 44% renewable energy usage across the Group

Singapore, September 26, 2022 – ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), a leading data centre service provider headquartered in Singapore, published today its 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report. The report highlights the progress on STT GDC’s ESG targets, and goals against the three ESG pillars set out in the inaugural report - Decarbonisation, a Safe, Secure and Inclusive Workplace, and Ethical & Responsible Operations. 

With the scale of the climate challenge bigger and more urgent than ever before, Bruno Lopez, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, reaffirms the Group’s commitment to building a sustainable digital economy. “Our second ESG report reflects significant progress in our efforts to become a sustainable digital infrastructure leader. As we grow to meet the ever-increasing consumer demand to connect, store and share data and information, we must do so while continuing to care for people, and the planet on which we live. We are excited about the progress made, particularly in promoting responsible resource management, against our long-term decarbonisation goals. With our ESG goals aligned with our business strategies, we are confident of unlocking social value that improves and sustains our customers and communities for generations to come.”  

 STT GDC also recently launched a Sustainability-Linked Financial Framework that can issue sustainability linked financial solutions. The framework will help hold the business’ commitment to sustainability with stringent Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs). 

"Our ESG strategy has been developed after thoughtful consideration on how to unlock social value that benefits all stakeholders. And while much has been achieved in this past one year, we will take a progressive approach towards reporting and hope to increase disclosures on performance and targets, also in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)”, said Lopez.

2021 ESG Report Highlights:

A key component of STT GDC’s inaugural ESG report published last year was the setting of several metrics to measure the Group’s progress against its goal of becoming net carbon-neutral by 2030. Key yardsticks include carbon intensity, which is the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted per million of revenue, as well as Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE). This year’s report found that across the Group’s global operations, carbon intensity decreased 12% year on year, with PUE and WUE improving 4% and 18%, respectively, versus 2020’s performance. 

Environmental impact: 

• STT GDC has committed to decarbonise its operations and become net carbon neutral by 2030. The Group plans to achieve this by: 

• driving innovative cooling and energy efficient solutions
• increasing its share of carbon-free electricity sources 
• purchasing and retiring carbon credits
• managing resources efficiently

• STT GDC's Singapore operation has successfully retired 25,000 tonnes of carbon credits purchased at the inaugural auction at Climate Impact Exchange (CIX).
• STT GDC has achieved 44% renewable energy usage across the Group with additional renewable energy PPAs being signed in India.
• Carbon intensity improved 12% year on year.
• Reduced fuel consumption by 21% from 2020 to 2021.
• Reduced power usage effectiveness (PUE) by 4% year on year at Group level.
• Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) improved 18% YoY at Group level.

Social Impact: 

• STT GDC has Health and Safety Management systems within each of its global businesses. As part of a continuous improvement programme across all geographies, the group aligned its safety culture, procedures, and systems by adopting a common global standard: 

• Group Minimum Standards (GMS) have been implemented to ensure and align requirements across sites

• Of the total 15.5 million construction hours recorded, there were zero work related serious injuries with a 0.13 total recordable incident rate. 
• For STT GDC, a diverse working environment is one that ensures fair treatment and non-discrimination, embracing the diversity of all backgrounds.
• STT GDC is upholding labour and human rights (i.e., fair working conditions) by introducing practices with a positive impact in terms of social resiliency for employees, workers and local communities.

Responsible Business Practices: 

• Corporate integrity and responsible business practices are in place to prevent ethical breaches, including: 

• a zero-tolerance policy on bribery, kickbacks, and corruption
• a requirement that all persons acting on behalf of STT GDC must conduct all business activities in compliance with its policies and applicable anti-corruption laws

• STT GDC ensures ethics conduct and compliance through:

• ongoing training and communication programmes for all employee levels on anti-corruption and ethics annually
• emphasising its code of conduct with business partners and suppliers

• To uphold the highest standards of conduct, all employees are empowered and encouraged to report improper conduct or unethical behaviour without any fear of reprisal.

STT GDC's ESG Report is based on the Group's financial year from 1 January to 31 December 2021, covering all operations (data centres and offices) under STT GDC's control during the year.