C.H. Robinson Worldwide

Subcontracted transport activity accounts for almost the entirety of C.H. Robinson’s emissions. However, the company has not set a target that includes its scope 3 emissions. As a company that uses a fully subcontracted fleet, the absence of a scope 3 emissions target indicates that C.H. Robinson is not making sufficient effort to reduce its transport-related emissions. The company’s current targets cover less than 0.2% of its total scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Moreover, the company has not set any interim targets. These are needed to maintain focus on short and mid-term progress in addition to committing to long-term change.

C.H. Robinson lacks robust data on the expected future emissions intensity of its subcontracted services. Knowing this information would help the company set targets aligned with its 1.5°C pathway. The company’s alignment with its past carbon budget could not be assessed due to the lack of data on activities and emissions intensity. The company should report this information to provide internal and external stakeholders with an understanding of its performance and the level of action required.

C.H. Robinson’s only low-carbon business model focuses on a modal shift and transport optimisation to reduce emissions. This low-carbon business model considers both C.H. Robinson’s transportation and its sourcing (fresh food produce provider) activities – with the latter accounting for less than 1% of the company’s total revenue . As a freight transport service provider, transport optimisation has the potential to deliver emissions reduction . However, the lack of detail on profitability, current size, growth potential and deployment schedule of this new business model makes it difficult to assess the company’s future plans.

C.H. Robinson has only started reporting its scope 3 emissions data in 2021. The company does not have a scope 3 emissions reduction target. The company aims to accelerate its alignment with reporting frameworks and plans to investigate the use of offsets.

Although C.H. Robinson has published a transition plan, this plan does not include a strategy or actions for how the company aims to align with a 1.5°C pathway. The company reports investing in technology and innovation, but it does not report how much it invests in digital solutions to reduce transport emissions.

C.H. Robinson is aiming to improve customer freight transport efficiency through involvement in the U.S. EPA SmartWay programme. It is also aiding customer emissions reporting through development of the Emissions IQ tool in conjunction with the Smart Freight Centre.

A meaningful assessment of C.H. Robinson’s historic emissions intensity trend is not possible as the company discloses insufficient scope 3 emissions data for the period 2016-2021. Furthermore, C.H. Robinson does not report any freight activity data.

C.H. Robinson’s actions align with its target to reduce its non-transport activity emissions. The company provides customers visibility on their value chain emissions. However, it lacks action to reduce emissions from its fully subcontracted transport activities.

No evidence was found of the company’s commitment to social dialogue or of the categories of stakeholders the company engages with on a just transition. Furthermore, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s ongoing social dialogue and meaningful engagement with affected stakeholders.

No evidence was found of the company undertaking low-carbon transition planning to mitigate the social impacts of the transition on workers, affected stakeholders and its business relationships. Additionally, no evidence was found to demonstrate the company’s engagement in social dialogue or engagement with stakeholders in its just transition planning.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to create and support access to green and decent jobs as part of the low-carbon transition. Moreover, no evidence was found of the company’s action to promote these jobs in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Additionally, no relevant disclosure was found of the company’s assessment of employment dislocation risks.

No public commitment by the company was found stating its intention to reskill and upskill workers displaced by the transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company reskills and upskills workers in a way that ensures gender balance and inclusion of vulnerable groups.

No relevant disclosure was found to show if the company identifies impacts of the low-carbon transition on social protection for workers and affected stakeholders, nor how it contributes to social protection. Additionally, no evidence was found that the company expects its business relationships to contribute to the social protection of their workers and affected stakeholders.

No relevant disclosure was found to show how the company identifies any misalignment of its lobbying activities with policies and regulations that support the just transition, nor of the measures it takes to address misalignment. Furthermore, no evidence was found that the company lobbies for policies and regulations for green and decent job creation; retention, education and reskilling; and social protection for workers.

While the company has a public commitment to respect human rights, no other policies or commitments of the company related to respect for human rights at work or expectations it places on its suppliers were found in the public domain. This includes the necessary policies and systems by which the company can ensure respect for basic human rights in its operations and supply chain.

The company expects its business partners to respect the health and safety of their workers, and it discloses some fundamental workforce diversity metrics. However, no evidence of the company’s policies or commitments related to key decent work issues was found in the public domain. These issues include the provision of secure, safe and healthy workplaces, where workers are fairly remunerated and have a meaningful say in decision-making.

The company commits to protecting personal data. However, no evidence was found of the company having a privacy statement regarding the collection, sharing and access to personal data. Furthermore, the company has a grievance mechanism accessible to stakeholders to report bribery and corruption concerns. However, the company can strengthen its disclosure on many ethical business topics, including personal data protection, tax, bribery and corruption, and lobbying and political engagement. This includes disclosure on how it ensures ethical business conduct throughout its operations and in its relationships with business partners.