At IDA, sustainability isn't just a goal—we are committed to operating responsibly and efficiently, working to minimise our environmental footprint while fulfilling our mission. Our dedication is underpinned by our Environmental Policy and our ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (EMS), demonstrating our ongoing efforts. But we don't stop there—we believe it is our responsibility to encourage others in our value chain to do the same.

CO2 baseline assessment - Scope 3 emissions focus
Recognising the urgent need to protect the health of our planet, IDA is aligning its operations with the principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We've set ambitious targets centered around Purpose, People, and Planet, driving meaningful action across our operations.

Our EMS helps us identify and address key environmental impacts through continuous improvements in responsible sourcing and supply chain management. In 2023, we further developed our ambitions and commitments to take measurable steps in sustainability, taking our first steps in line with the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Although as a foundation we are not required to comply with the CSRD yet, we believe it provides additional guidance on our sustainability journey

A key milestone was the completion of our CO2 baseline assessment, which provided valuable insights into our environmental impact. The findings were clear: a staggering 99% of our emissions fall under Scope 3—indirect emissions from our entire value chain that are beyond our direct control. This makes collaboration with our partners more important than ever.

Alternative fuel options
To tackle these emissions, we are working closely together with our freight forwarders to promote low-carbon logistics. One of our focus areas is biofuels—a promising alternative to fossil fuels that can significantly decarbonise our supply chain. We are also engaging with our key customers to explore this solution, although we recognise the challenges posed by higher costs, particularly for humanitarian organisations. 

To make biofuels a more viable and standard choice, we have secured agreements with our main freight forwarders GEODIS, Kuehne+Nagel and Maersk to prioritise alternative fuel options. In 2024, we started to reduce our emissions by strategically replacing conventional fuels with biofuels on selected routes—with the intention of gradually expanding this over the coming years.

This initiative ensures that we continue to deliver essential health commodities to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) while making measurable progress towards a greener future.

At IDA, we believe that it takes collective action to make change happen. Together with our partners, customers and stakeholders, we're committed to making sustainability a reality—one step at a time. 

Stay tuned for regular updates on our journey towards a more responsible, sustainable future. Would you like to learn more? Please contact us.