Westcon-Comstor shifts to 42% renewable energy in 2023

Westcon-Comstor has announced substantial advancements in its commitment to powering all global operations with renewable electricity by 2030.

The global technology provider reported that it sourced 42% of its electricity from renewable energy in the latest financial year, marking an increase from 33% the year prior. The progress is highlighted in its newly released annual Responsible Business report.

Particularly in Europe, the shift to renewables has been most rapid, with the United Kingdom being the first country where Westcon-Comstor has fully transitioned to renewable energy for its operations.

In 2023, Westcon-Comstor established a set of ambitious science-based emission reduction targets, becoming the first major global technology distributor to have its targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Over 80% of Westcon-Comstor's supply chain partners in the IT channel have set their own science-based emission reduction targets, reaching this milestone a year ahead of the planned schedule. The focus now shifts to engaging with suppliers to ensure the realisation of these targets.

The Responsible Business report outlines actions taken by Westcon-Comstor in three strategic areas: people, planet, and communities, during the FY24 fiscal year. Alongside sustainability achievements, the report notes an increase in the company training budget by 13%, with approximately USD $1 million invested globally in employee development programmes.

For the first time, Westcon-Comstor has aligned its reporting with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, which are widely recognised for sustainability reporting.

Kevin Brzezinski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Westcon-Comstor, stated: "We're pleased to have made significant progress in certain areas, for example in transitioning to renewable electricity, but we acknowledge that there is much to do as we look to accelerate progress in pursuit of our ambitious medium and long-term sustainability goals. As a business we are committed to achieving the targets we have set ourselves and working with channel partners and vendors to create a truly sustainable IT channel."

Westcon-Comstor is a global technology provider and specialist distributor, operating in more than 50 countries. It delivers business value and opportunity by connecting IT vendors with a channel of technology resellers, systems integrators and service providers. It combines industry insight, technical know-how and more than 30 years of distribution experience to deliver value and accelerate vendor and partner business success.