About NWO

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the national organisation  that funds, supports, and promotes scientific research in the Netherlands. With sustainability and societal impact as key pillars, NWO aims to build a future-proof research ecosystem. The organisation is committed to improving the sustainability of its own operations, ensuring transparent reporting on impact and emissions, and aligning with (European) guidelines and standards.

The client’s request

NWO wanted to gain better insight into sustainability data and learn how to report on it effectively. To support this, the organisation sought a partner to help explore relevant frameworks such as the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standards for non-listed SMEs (VSME). In addition, NWO wanted to better understand how to conduct a double materiality analysis (DMA), how to prepare a sustainability report, and how to map and calculate CO₂ emissions—particularly Scope 3 emissions.

The logical first step was therefore to build internal knowledge and strengthen the organisation’s capabilities, enabling NWO to eventually work independently on these complex topics.

Our approach

Our approach consisted of two complementary training sessions. The first training focused on DMA and VSME reporting, covering both the theory and practice of materiality assessments. The goal was to build knowledge within the team. We explained how a DMA works, which steps are required to carry it out, and how the results can be translated into a VSME report. Through practical exercises, participants worked through the different stages of a materiality analysis, allowing them to immediately apply what they had learned.

In addition, we delivered a training on CO₂ emissions, with a focus on the GHG Protocol and the structure of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. As preparation for this session, we reviewed the organisation’s existing CO₂ inventory so we could tailor the training to their context. This allowed us to make a general topic—CO₂ emissions—highly specific and practical for an organisation like NWO.

During the training, participants learned how to define organisational boundaries and emission categories, how to collect data and calculate CO₂ emissions, and how to deal with common challenges, particularly within Scope 3. The emphasis was again on practical application, enabling participants to further develop and expand their current CO₂ inventory after the sessions.

The result

The two sessions empowered NWO to confidently kickstart its DMA and sustainability reporting journey, while unlocking a much deeper understanding of its emissions structure. The trainings also marked the first step towards an inventory management plan, giving insights on which GHG categories are relevant (or not, and why), what data is available, where it can be sourced, and what the quality of that data is, proving NWO with a strong foundation for transparent and practical CO₂ reporting.