DNS Belgium has been committed to minimising its climate and environmental footprint for years. In our day-to-day operations, we always aim to make the most ecological choices and within our ecological impact we've defined three clear impact domains and strategic goals:
- Reduce our own CO₂ footprint
- Actively encourage the reuse of electronic industrial waste via Digital For Youth
- Stimulate sustainability actions among our registrars and registrants
Our CO₂ impact: emissions and reduction plans (B3, C-B3, C3)
Since 2016, we have systematically calculated our climate footprint to gain insight into our CO₂ impact and to draw up targeted reduction plans. Below is an overview of our emissions, the measures we are taking to reduce our impact and the reduction goals we set ourselves.
CO₂ impact in figures (B3, C-B3)
Our total power consumption amounts to 225.44 MWh: 109.38 MWh electricity (37.43 MWh renewable) and 116.06 MWh non-renewable fuels.
For 2024, we calculated our total climate footprint at 134.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂eq). Our emissions are broken down into three scopes:
- Scope 1: direct emissions, which account for 28.41 tonnes of CO₂eq, representing 21.12% of our total footprint.
- Scope 2: indirect emissions from purchased energy, which account for 11.65 tonnes of CO₂eq, representing 8.66% of the total.
- Scope 3: other indirect emissions, amounting to 94.44 tonnes of CO₂eq, representing 70.21% of total emissions.
Given that Scope 3 has the largest impact on our overall footprint, a detailed breakdown is provided below:
The majority, 66.09 tonnes, comes from capital goods such as our office building, IT infrastructure and leased company vehicles. A further 10.02 tonnes is from the production and distribution of fuels and energy. 14.14 tonnes is produced by business travel and employee commutes. Other categories have a minimal impact.
CO₂ impact in perspective (B3)
These absolute figures reflect our total impact, but for a better understanding of their significance, we compare them against the scale of our organisation, activity and turnover.
The total calculated emissions of 134.51 tonnes equate to 3.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂eq) per full-time equivalent (FTE) or 0.078 kilograms of CO₂eq per registered domain name.
The greenhouse gas intensity shows our CO₂ emissions relative to our turnover. With total emissions of 134.51 tonnes of CO₂eq and a turnover of €7,479,881 in 2024, our greenhouse gas intensity amounts to 1.79816E-05 (≈0.00001798), which equates to approximately 0.018 grams of CO₂eq per euro of turnover.
*Although the VSME guidelines only require scope 1 and scope 2 data for this calculation, we have deliberately chosen to include scope 3 for greater transparency. For scope 2, we continue to use market-based emission figures in line with our calculation method applied since 2016.
CO₂ compensation: dynamic model
Although the aforementioned figures provide an insight into our current CO₂ impact, it is important to note that we have fully offset these emissions. Along with our partner Ecolife, we've developed a dynamic offset model built on three pillars:
- PAS 2060 offsets which recognise and certify our CO₂ neutrality and supplementary offsets via
- high impact donations via doneereffectief
- local impact donations
Under this third pillar, local impact donations, DNS Belgium provides financial support to Leuven 2030 for its mission to make Leuven a climate-neutral and sustainable city by 2030. In doing so, we affirm our ambassadorial role in the field of sustainability within local initiatives.
Compensation strategy pillar 2: high-impact donations via Doneer Effectief
Compensation strategy pillar 3: local impact donations as partner of Leuven 2030.
Compensation strategy pillar 1: CO₂ offsets and CO₂ neutrality according to PAS 2030 standard
CO₂ reducing measures in 2024
Over the years, DNS Belgium has implemented a range of measures to reduce its CO₂ emissions. Below is an overview of the most significant actions taken in 2024:
- Electrification of our fleet and mobility budget: We continue our policy to transition our fleet of vehicles to electric vehicles. At the same time, mobility budgets are offered to employees entitled to a company vehicle. This encourages the use of more eco-friendly transport options. In 2024, 11 colleagues opted for a mobility budget with four choosing pillar 1 (a car). The offer is limited exclusively to full electric vehicles. The option of second-hand leasing via Lizy was also provided. In total, 30 colleagues now make use of the mobility budget.
- Office: In 2024, we decided to move to a smaller office at Engels Plein in Leuven in 2025. Thanks to a reduced space usage and a large number of sustainable renovation techniques, the move is expected to have a significant positive impact on our CO₂ emissions over time.
- Bike leasing policy: Our bike leasing policy was further expanded in 2024. Four bike leasing projects were launched this year. In all, colleagues commuted 17,330 km by bicycle, resulting in a significant reduction of CO₂ emissions.
- Blue Bike Vouchers: We continue to use Blue Bike vouchers to allow visitors, interns and colleagues travelling by train to make the final leg of the journey by bike. This initiative promotes sustainable transport and reduces the use of cars for short distances. In total, Blue Bikes were used 21 times in 2024.
Sustainability was one of the main criteria in our search for a new office. Reduced space usage and lower CO₂ emissions are conscious investments in the future of DNS Belgium and society as a whole.
Read the full climate footprint report of 2024.
CO₂ reduction plans and goals (C3, C4)
Climate risks (C4)
We have not identified any climate-related dangers or transition events that would result in serious climate-related risks to DNS Belgium. This is confirmed by our double materiality analysis in 2024, in which no climate-related topics were identified as financially material. We therefore do not anticipate any short-, medium-, or long-term climate risks that could adversely affect our financial performance or business activities. Nonetheless, we believe it's important and our duty to reduce the CO₂ emissions of our activities. For this reason, we have included CO₂ impact as a final material topic and linked it to clear strategic goals.
Climate plan: our CO₂ reduction goals for 2030
DNS Belgium has actively worked on reducing its climate impact since 2016. We devised a climate plan covering the period from 2016 to 2023. The plan included measures such as a large-scale transition to cloud services, various mobility initiatives and a switch to 100% green electricity.
In 2024 we drew up a new 2024-2030 climate plan*, with 2023 as the baseline year. This plan is based on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The aim is to reduce our CO₂ impact in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement. This climate plan sets out reduction goals for our total CO₂ emissions across scope 1, 2, and 3.
- 42% reduction in scope 1 and 2
- 25% reduction in scope 3
by 2030, representing a total emissions reduction of 32.1% from 2023 to 2030.
*Correction of the base year 2023 and climate plan 2024-2030
Following the CO₂ calculation for 2024, a correction to the calculation for 2023 was deemed appropriate for three reasons:
- Expansion of footprint categories in 2024 compared to 2023
- Use of updated emission factors
- Correction of certain consumption data
Since 2023 is the base year for the 2024-2030 climate plan that we published in 2024, our reduction plans were also adjusted in 2025 prior to the publication of this report. However, we are not abandoning our SBTi ambition and are maintaining the same percentage reduction target.
*For scope 2, we continue to use market-based emission figures, in line with our calculation method applied since 2016.
The adjusted target for our total emissions in 2030 is 89.18 tons of CO₂ equivalent, compared to 84.66 tons in the original climate plan (+5.34%). Despite this adjustment, we remain in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and therefore maintain our ambition to substantially reduce our climate impact.
We monitor our CO₂ reduction by analyzing our emissions in absolute figures and expressed in CO₂ emissions per FTE and per registered domain name.
To achieve our reduction targets, we will take various measures, including:
- Full electrification of our vehicle fleet by 2027, including the installation of charging stations with green electricity
- Move to a new, sustainable office in 2025, with energy-efficient facilities and a smaller footprint
- Further reduce business air travel through stricter internal guidelines
Pending an update of the full climate plan, you can consult the corrected emission figures for 2023 and the new reduction targets in the 2024 Climate Footprint Report.
Our environmental footprint in figures (B4, B5, B6, B7)
In addition to our climate impact, we also look at our environmental impact. Our double materiality analysis did not show this as a material topic for DNS Belgium and that's why we didn't define any strategic goals relating to this. Nonetheless, we remain committed to minimising our impact on the environment. The figures are available here below:
a. Land, soil and air pollution (B4)
The calculation of our carbon footprint takes into account air conditioning emissions. As the exact leakage rate is unknown, we apply a safety margin with a leakage percentage of 5%. Based on an assumed 2.5 kg of refrigerant (R410A) per kW of cooling capacity, this results in an emission of 1.48 kg of refrigerant.
b. Biodiversity (B5)
In 2024, we leased an office at the Ubicenter, Philipssite 5/13 in Heverlee, Belgium, with a floor area of 909 m².
Our land use is limited to sealed surfaces. We don't use, own, lease or manage any nature-oriented areas or sites located in or near biodiversity-sensitive zones.
We do, however, actively contribute to biodiversity conservation in Belgium. In addition to our CO₂ reduction and offset efforts, DNS Belgium has a long-standing commitment to improving biodiversity in Belgium through its partnership with Planteenbos. Since 2017, DNS Belgium has planted over 16,000 m² of forest or restored existing forests.
c. Water (B6)
Our water consumption amounted to 150.75 m³. We don't discharge water and are not located in a water-stressed area.
d. Waste (B7)
We closely monitor our waste production via the waste register. In 2024, our office produced 457.2 kg of waste, 370 kg of which was recycled.
2. Circular economy: encouraging reuse of electronic industrial waste (B7)
Electronic industrial waste such as laptops and IT assets contain a wealth of valuable raw materials, including rare metals and high-grade components. By encouraging reuse and proper recycling, both internally and across other organisations, we contribute to a circular economy.
In 2019, DNS Belgium co-founded Digital for Youth with Close the Gap. This initiative collects laptops and IT assets from companies, refurbishes them and redistributes them to digitally vulnerable young people and children. In 2024, 37.528 IT assets were collected, 17,092 of which were laptops. Their impact report shows that these IT donations helped to avoid 8,091 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions, in addition to toxic materials, e-waste, impact minerals and land use. 2,519 laptops were distributed to organisations working with young people. We asked organisations how many laptops they would have purchased new if they hadn’t received laptops from Digital for Youth. In all, the purchase of 475 laptops was avoided resulting in 76 tonnes fewer CO₂ emissions.
Electronic business waste for reuse and recycling via Digital for Youth.
3. Encouraging sustainability among registrars and registrants
This is why DNS Belgium wants to play a pioneering role in terms of sustainability and corporate social responsibility in its sector. While minimising our own ecological impact, we also try to have a positive impact on society. One of the ways we do this is by inspiring organisations in our sector.
To reinforce that ambition, .be Sustainable was launched in 2024.
.be Sustainable primarily encourages registrars to set their own sustainability goals, adopt corporate social responsibility and improve the sustainability of their operations, processes and policies. We do this by sharing best practices and inspiring examples from fellow registrars. In 2024, we collected five inspiring testimonials from registrars. We interviewed them about their sustainability actions and strategies, their achievements but also their challenges with regard to sustainable entrepreneurship. The interviews were featured on our website and LinkedIn channel.
