Policies

We seek to protect the environment by addressing the complex challenges presented by population growth, climate change, biodiversity loss, increasing energy demand and resource scarcity to live within the natural limits of our planet.

Aims

Promote responsible environmental stewardship that considers economic security and social betterment. 

Identify and manage our environmental impacts to protect the environment and prevent pollution.

Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources in our project work and within our own facilities.

Protect and promote sustainable use of ecosystems and strive to reduce the loss of biodiversity.

Be a Net Zero GHG emissions organisation by 2030.

We will

Collaborate with clients, stakeholders and partners to act on opportunities to support sustainable development.

Work with clients and stakeholders to identify and manage relevant environmental
risks, while realising their business objectives.

Approach our work holistically, making decisions based on a clear view of the environmental outcomes and
impacts.

Research, develop and promote practical resilient solutions to relevant environmental issues.

Work with clients and collaborators with due consideration that their environmental commitments are consistent with our own.

Continually improve our environmental performance through our management system certificated to ISO14001.

Prioritize decarbonization and adaptation to the impact of climate change in our projects.

Governance

This Policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Environment Director acts for Arup in ensuring that plans are developed and implemented to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements

Download our Environmental policy

Arup is committed to creating an inclusive working environment based on fairness and respect. One that encourages talented people of any background to produce their best work of the highest quality. As a humane organisation, we embrace the skills, abilities and knowledge, that only a diverse and inclusive workforce can provide, to create solutions, and give advice, that improves society as a whole.

Aims

• Treat everyone fairly, with dignity and respect; as we would wish to be treated.

• Maintain fair and honourable dealings with our people, where recognition, reward and opportunity reflect the ability, experience and aspiration of the individual.

• Create an environment that brings the best skills to our work, in which we value individual differences and recognise the contributions of all our people.

• Prohibit discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race/ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or employment status.

We will

• Recruit talented people from a wide range of backgrounds with differing beliefs and personal characteristics.

• Ensure full and effective participation and equal opportunities for everyone.

• Invest in the education and development of our people and provide them with opportunities to reach their full potential.

• Increase our people’s awareness and understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, including its importance.

• Provide equitable pay based on roles, responsibilities and performance.

• Identify and address inappropriate behaviour or discrimination.

• Seek to work with clients and collaborators with due consideration that their EDI commitments are consistent with our own.

• Measure how we are performing; report regularly and act to address any barriers.

Governance

This policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Director acts for Arup in developing a plan to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements.

Download our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy

Our values and commitment to business integrity stem from a desire to act honourably and with integrity in all our business dealings. We have a strong sense of responsibility to treat people respectfully and we maintain ethical business standards in all the markets in which we operate.

Aims

• Treat our people with honesty and fairness. Enable them to behave honourably and act with integrity in all our business dealings, building relationships as independent advisors and trusted professionals.

• Implement best practice and raise awareness of the ethical standards we require of our people.

We will

• Maintain a Code of Practice and training programme for all our people.

• Maintain procedures to see that we do not engage in unethical conduct or illegal practices. Implement systems that support our duty of confidentiality and respect privacy in all our business relationships.

• Support any member of staff who has legitimate concerns to challenge unethical behaviour and respond appropriately.

• Participate in appropriate industry initiatives to promote business integrity.

• Work with clients, partners and collaborators with due consideration that their ethical commitments are consistent with our own.

• Keep our systems and procedures under regular review to confirm that they remain relevant and proportionate.

Governance

This policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Ethics Director acts for Arup in ensuring that plans are developed and implemented to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements.

Download our Ethical Conduct policy

We care about our people, our communities and those that we influence by our actions. We are committed to meeting all applicable standards of health, safety and wellbeing and strive for zero harm in everything we do. We are committed to embedding a positive safety culture through engagement, collaboration and listening.

Aims

• Maintain a culture of care, where safety is a primary consideration in everything we do.

• Operate responsibly, ensuring compliance, ethics and integrity are central to everything we do in health and safety.

• Support our people through an enjoyable and positive working environment that protects and promotes physical and mental wellbeing.

• Positively influence the health and safety of the projects we work on and the communities they impact.

• Strive for continual improvement in our health and safety systems and approach.

• Empower and support everyone at Arup to make health and safety integral to their role, their work, and any services they perform.

We will

• Manage and reduce our risks through effective systems and processes.

• Resource our commitment with appropriate investment, systems, equipment, information and training.

• Commit to relevant legal requirements, standards, and professional codes.

• Promote positive leadership, behaviours and actions.

• Engage with our people so their ideas, innovations and experiences are a source of improvement.

• Integrate health, safety, and wellbeing into our design, advice, and decisions.

• Collaborate with clients, partners, and suppliers to improve health and safety.

• Nurture a healthy, positive work culture where there is zero tolerance to the inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

• Embed a culture of continuous learning that celebrates success and improves through experience.

• We will achieve this by all being accountable and taking personal responsibility for health, safety and wellbeing.

Governance

This policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through procedures and guidance.

The Group Board sets the policy and direction, with the Regions responsible for the day to day implementation of their detailed plans and for meeting their compliance obligations.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Health, Safety and Wellbeing Director acts for Arup in ensuring that plans are developed and implemented to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory, and other requirements.

Download our Health, Safety and Wellbeing policy

We have made a commitment to be a net zero organisation by 2030. We will achieve this by pursuing an ambitious 1.5ºC aligned science-based target for our full value chain emissions and compensating residual hard-to-decarbonise emissions with certified greenhouse gas removal. 

Strategy

Our Sustainable Development Policy commits us to making a meaningful contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG13 requires us to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, including reducing emissions to align with global commitments. 

To achieve net zero emissions in our operations by 2030 we will

• Reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions globally 30% by 2025 from a 2018 base year.
• Reduce scope 3 GHG emissions globally 30% by 2025 from 2018 base year.
• Purchase Gold Standard certified offsets that remove greenhouse gases to offset all domestic and international flights. 
• From 2030 compensate for other residual hard-to decarbonise emissions with high quality certified greenhouse gas removal. 

Implementation

Every part of our firm has a role to play in our becoming a net zero organisation. 

• We will develop a global GHG Management Plan, and region GHG Management Plans which will identify region targets for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, priorities for action, investment, governance and reporting. 
• We will increase the proportion of renewable energy consumed in our offices and vehicles. 
• We will review our global, region and office purchasing practices to reduce consumption, and minimise waste.
• We will establish the Arup Carbon Fund applying a carbon tax of $40 per tonnes CO²e on all domestic and international flights. This will be used to purchase high quality certified offsets at market rates and accelerate our own and others’ efforts to decarbonise.
• We will consider alternative working practices, review the location of our offices, and provide information and support to employees on sustainable transport options to/from our offices. 
• We will integrate our carbon reduction plans through the application of our Environment Policy and Arup Environmental Management Systems certified to ISO14001.
• We will comply with the reporting requirements of the Science Based Target initiative. 
• We will communicate our progress to our clients and stakeholders via our Annual Report. 

Governance

This statement is made on behalf of the Arup Group Board in line with the policies that it sets and is implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance. It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

Download the Net Zero GHG Emissions statement

Download our Net Zero Carbon Strategy

We care deeply about our work and seek to produce better outcomes for our clients, the public and our planet. Through our collaborative spirit, independent thinking and holistic approach we produce work of quality that improves the built environment and sets new expectations for our industry.

Aims

• Provide advice and design solutions that are efficient, effective and innovative; that generate outcomes that exceed expectations, improve society and support sustainable development.

• Provide a high level of service to our clients; one that they enjoy and will want to repeat.

• Create elegant, coordinated, robust and accurate deliverables; containing the right information that is readily accessible.

We will

• Recruit talented people from diverse backgrounds who share our aims; and provide the right conditions and opportunities for them to flourish.

• Give our people the freedom to be creative and to learn.

• Build long-term trusted, empathetic relationships with our clients and collaborators.

• Pursue a culture of enquiry, strengthen internal collaboration and share our knowledge.

• Invest in advancing our design, digital and professional skills; and our strategic thinking.

• Seek to work with clients, partners, agents, advisors and suppliers whose commitments and values are consistent with our own.

• Continually improve quality through our management system certificated to ISO 9001.

Governance

This policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Quality Director acts for Arup in developing a plan to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements.

Download our Quality policy

We have made a commitment to contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating shared value for our clients and our communities while safeguarding our planet. We will apply our expertise, diversity of thinking and independence in the quest for a safe, sustainable and resilient future – for all. This is how we will shape a better world.

Aims

Our collaborations with clients, our approach to projects, and our investments will be guided by six principles, to:

• Improve human health, safety and well- being through the quality of the built environment and health of the planet.

• Transition to a zero-carbon world where everyone has access to clean energy and potable water.

• Adopt circular economy principles leading to decoupling of economic growth and consumption.

• Enhance communities’ resilience to climate change and risks.

• Create social value to achieve a more inclusive, equitable and just society.

• Respect planetary boundaries and reverse the damage done to date.

We will

• We will use the six principles to guide our business and services strategies and shape the delivery of our projects.

• We will develop collaborative relationships with our clients to deliver sustainable development and invest in partnerships and ventures that enable innovation and amplify our contribution.

• We will invest in learning and research to continually increase the knowledge and skills our people need to deliver sustainable development.

• We will assist the most vulnerable in society through our Community Engagement programme.

• We will integrate sustainable development in our projects and corporate practices through the application of our Group Policies (Environment; Health, Safety and Wellbeing; Quality; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; Ethical Conduct) and Arup Management Systems certified to ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and ISO 45001.

• We will communicate our progress to our clients and stakeholders via our annual report.

This policy is set by the Group Board and implemented across all Arup operations through rules, procedures and guidance.

It is reviewed and approved annually, or more frequently if appropriate.

The Sustainable Development Director acts for Arup in ensuring that plans are developed and implemented to enable us to reach the aims set out in this policy while fulfilling applicable legal, regulatory and other requirements.

Download our Sustainable Development Policy