Welcome to Coffee Talk with Maurits, our net zero expert
2 december 2024
Coffee Talk: An interview series by The Terrace
By Deike Robotta
Welcome to Coffee Talk our interview series at The Terrace, where I (Deike, communication consultant at The Terrace) sit down with my colleagues to explore the sustainability topics that keep us busy and excited at The Terrace.
Today, I’m catching up with Maurits. Maurits recently got promoted to Senior Sustainability Strategy Consultant and is our net zero pathway expert in the team. He supports organisations to understand their environmental impact and make meaningful progress toward net zero. In my coffee talk with Maurits, he shares what inspired his journey into sustainability, demystifies the net zero concept, and gives us his practical advice on getting started.
What sparked your passion for sustainability and led you to focus on net zero pathways?
For me, it all started with “In het oog van de orkaan” by Jan Rotmans. That book really opened my eyes to how urgently we need to shift our economy, society, and businesses toward sustainable practices. I’ve always been more drawn to the environmental side of sustainability. I mean, if we don’t address our environmental impacts seriously, there won’t be much of a foundation left for social impact. But of course, both are relevant!
I’m also a big fan of hard data—numbers that give you a real sense of where an organisation stands. That’s why net zero pathways are such a natural focus for me. These pathways let us create a baseline measurement for organisations’ greenhouse gas emissions, then set serious reduction commitments—90% by 2050, with an interim goal for 2030. It’s all about quantifiable, trackable progress, which is so key in organisations’ sustainability ambitions.
Some organisations think “net zero” just means “cutting emissions”. Can you explain what the net zero pathway really involves? And what’s the biggest misconception you’ve come across?
Sure, at its core, a net zero pathway is a strategic plan to cut an organisation’s Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% by 2050, and then use carbon offsets to balance out the last bit. So, it’s not just reducing emissions here and there—it’s a long-term commitment to drastically lower an organisation’s environmental impact.
One misconception that keeps coming up is the idea that net zero is just a fancy way to greenwash. To counter that, we always recommend organisations to set science-based targets, validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). These targets hold organisations accountable since they have to prove each year they’re on track to meet their goals. It’s about real impact, not just looking good on paper.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see organisations facing on their net zero journey?
One big challenge is figuring out Scope 3 emissions—these cover an organisation’s entire supply chain, so everything from goods purchased to waste processing. Scope 3 can be tricky to measure accurately, and it often requires close collaboration with suppliers, landlords, and even customers.
Another challenge is balancing sustainability with business realities. Aiming to hit big reductions by 2030 sounds great, but for some organisations, it can impact short-term profitability. Long-term contracts, like leases for vehicles or buildings, can also complicate things when you’re trying to reduce emissions in the next 5 to 10 years. It’s a balancing act, and organisations often need to make some tough calls.
How do you help organisations prioritise actions to reach their net-zero targets?
We start by looking at their current emissions to see which categories contribute the most. Then we dig into how feasible it would be to cut emissions in these areas, using interviews (both internal, such as with procurement, finance and legal teams, and external, such as with suppliers, landlord & customers). We also perform desk and market research to assess more options. We work with an internal steering group to develop a tailored plan with specific reduction actions—like switching to renewable energy or working with different suppliers.
The goal is to make the path forward realistic and actionable. We focus on emission categories with the highest impact and explore various options, like energy efficiency and sustainable sourcing, to help organisations prioritise where they’ll get the most significant reductions.
For organisations just starting out on their net zero journey, what would you recommend as the first steps?
Start by calculating your Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and try to get a basic understanding of your Scope 3 emissions too. Once you’ve got a baseline, set realistic but ambitious goals for 2030 and 2050 that align with climate science.
From there, you can start working on concrete reduction actions, both internally and with partners. Don’t be afraid to adjust as you go—sustainability is a continuous journey, and transparency about your progress is key. The most important thing is to start.
