Sustainability

In 2024, Topa once again took a significant step in further reducing its Company Carbon Footprint (CCF). Compared to 2021, emissions have dropped by 47%, well above this year’s target of 30%. In addition to the annual CCF CO₂ emission calculation by ClimatePartner, Topa also underwent an EcoVadis audit this year. You can read the outcomes of both audits in this article.

We’re aiming for less
“We’re aiming for less” is our promise to customers, suppliers and employees alike. Less waste, less material use and less CO₂ emissions, both in our products and in our own operations. In doing so, we don’t just look at the amount of recycled material, but also at reusability and the degree of biodegradability. Internally, we take measures to save energy, further reduce emissions from our vehicle fleet and minimise waste streams.

CCF results 2024

In 2024, our total CO₂ emissions dropped further to 880.72 tonnes, compared to 1,021 tonnes in 2023. This marks another significant step forward. Since 2021, when emissions totalled 1,660 tonnes, we have achieved a total reduction of 47%. This result is well above our own target of -30% and also surpasses the Dutch goals under the Paris Climate Agreement, which prescribes an 11% reduction, as well as the tightened national reduction targets of 55% (with a 60% ambition) by 2030.

After a slight increase in 2023, waste emissions have now also decreased again: from 211 tonnes to 195 tonnes of CO₂.

This reduction is the result of specific improvements in:

• Heating: from 373 tonnes to 318 tonnes of CO₂
• Vehicle fleet: from 137 tonnes to 108 tonnes of CO₂
• Electricity: 0 tonnes of CO₂ (fully green energy)
• Waste: 195 tonnes of CO₂

Financial climate contribution: strengthening internal measures

Since 2020, Topa has consistently worked to reduce CO₂ emissions through internal improvements, as outlined above. Because we at Topa want to take responsibility for the remaining emissions that we as an organisation still produce. In 2024, we are again supporting the Renewable Energy Asia project, which invests in wind, solar and hydropower. In 2024, we compensated 881 tonnes of CO₂, bringing our total contribution since 2020 to 6,005 tonnes of CO₂.

As a result, we are still entitled to call ourselves a “Company with Financial Climate Contribution” (May 2022 to April 2026).

PPWR and PCF: ready for the future

On 12 August 2026, the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) will come into effect. This European legislation focuses on reducing packaging waste, increasing recycling and encouraging reuse.
Topa is particularly focused on pillars 2, 3 and 7 of the PPWR:

• Recyclable packaging: only products that are easy to recycle, such as mono-materials
• Minimum percentage of recycled content: aligned with the stricter requirements for 2030
• Clear labelling and information: transparent sorting instructions and indication of recycled content

We are translating the PPWR requirements into concrete product recommendations, making our range more sustainable and helping customers make a timely switch to compliant packaging. We are also providing increasingly transparent insights into the life cycle of our products, through life cycle analysis (LCA) as part of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF).

EcoVadis

In addition to reducing our Company Carbon Footprint (CCF), we also undergo external evaluations. That is why we were once again audited by EcoVadis, which assesses over 100,000 companies worldwide across four key areas: environment, labour and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.

In September 2025, Topa was once again awarded the bronze EcoVadis medal. Our overall score increased from 58 to 69 points, placing us in the 83rd percentile. This means we are among the top 20% of all evaluated companies in our sector and confirms our position within the top 35% of best-performing companies worldwide.

Future plans 2025

For 2025, we have set a reduction target of -5% compared to 2024. We aim to achieve this by further implementing our updated mobility plan, switching to EcoGas as of the first of January, actively improving energy efficiency and enriching our sustainability data. We also aim to improve our EcoVadis score with the goal of earning a higher medal. The waste plan will be further rolled out to achieve structural progress in this area as well.

“With a 47% reduction since 2021, we are showing that structural measures work,” says Tom Vermeersch, sustainability project manager at Topa. “But we’re looking further ahead. In 2025, we will take new steps to reduce our carbon footprint and help customers get their packaging ready for PPWR. We’ve also strengthened our QSHE team to give us even more leverage to achieve our sustainability goals. Together, we’re going for less.”