Rouse is a conscientious global citizen whether by advocating the IP industry to mitigate, and join the fight against, climate change via our ground-breaking Climate Change and IP Team, supporting the local communities in which we work or supporting our own Rouse family. We want to have a positive impact. It is integral to our business and values.
When comparing what we do as a business with other industries, we are not a big polluter. However, there are always activities where we can reduce or mitigate our carbon emissions. In the past we have tracked and offset the flights we taken. We encouraged the recycling of office materials including printer cartridges or urged teams to make sure lights were switched off at the end of the day. We have taken part in beach cleans or worked with local charities to improve the environment in the locations where we operate. Fabrice Mattei has led the way for the IP industry by developing the world’s first calculator of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from IP filing activities, CLIPMATE. However, there is always more we can do.
In response to the urgent need for climate action, we have conducted an extensive analysis of achieving net zero emissions and highlighting the importance of integrating sustainability into our operations. You can read the latest annual report here: NetZero Report 2022-2023.
Our priorities:
This is the oversight, structures, policies, rules and controls related to a company’s ownership, leadership and processes as well as risk management. It defines how a company operates and should it fall-down on these requirements it has massive implications both for the business but also its reputation.
Our Code of Conduct plays a role but it is backed up by the many policies different parts of the business have created not just from Business Integrity but HR, Finance and IT. In addition to the policies, we have also “put our money where our mouth is” and put ourselves forward to test that we live by these policies. This is especially true of information security and privacy. We are proud to have gained and retained ISO certifications for ISO27001:2013 and ISO27701:2019 for the year 2023/24.
Our priorities:
We are pleased to share our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) annual report for the year 2022-2023. This is our first annual report and will provide the benchmark by which all future progress will be measured.
In 2022 we partnered with the ESG consultancy firm Sustainable Advantage to assess 47 specific ESG areas. We evaluated Rouse’s impact on employees, communities, customers and the environment – all areas that are relevant to our business and industry. The assessment resulted in a numeric score that has enabled Rouse to develop a roadmap for continuous ESG improvement.
Rouse’s inaugural ESG report outlines our comprehensive approach to diversity, environmental responsibility, employee engagement and governance. We are represented by over 20 ethnic groups and have a 72% female workforce, while our carbon-footprint management is on a clear path towards Net Zero emissions by 2050. With an enhanced corporate governance model, Rouse upholds the highest standards of ethical practice and risk management.
This report reflects our progress and achievements over the past year, as well as our ambitious goals for the future. We aim to integrate sustainability into every aspect of our operations and engage with our stakeholders transparently and proactively.
The Mitrataa Foundation was set-up in 2000 by a former Rouse colleague, Bec Ordish. It works with the girls and women of Nepal to give them opportunities through education and jobs training.
Since 2018, we have been providing support to selected Mitrataa's projects, currently they are:
Rouse has worked with Mitrataa over a number of years by providing pro bono advice linked to the registration of collective trade marks for the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association which is now registered in over 40 countries and the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board. This collective trade mark enables them to develop these local industries to provide more sustainable employment and an alternative to aid dependency.
If you would like to make a donation to The Mitrataa Foundation you can do so on their website.
Social
Being a responsible global citizen also means being a responsible employer, service provider and client. For this section, we comply with local employment regulations and in a lot of cases aim to go above and beyond what is required. We work with our clients and suppliers in a fair and trustworthy fashion as outlined in our Code of Conduct. Working with innovators, we need to make sure that not only do we meet Diversity, Inclusivity and Equality requirements, it just makes sense for our business like ours to be diverse to encourage not just diversity of gender, culture, sexuality etc but also diversity of thought and experience. Only then can we provide well-rounded experience and expertise to our clients.
Our priorities: