Case Study – Bain & Company

Being Bold: Global consultancy Bain & Company’s approach to climate action

For nearly two decades, global management consultancy Bain & Company has embedded sustainability into its business strategy.

Since 2019, Bain & Company has reduced its absolute total emissions by 25%, while also financing the removal of 390,000 tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere. These achievements reflect Bain’s bold approach to sustainability, demonstrating how strategic climate action delivers measurable results. 

Bain’s Approach to Climate 

For nearly two decades, Bain & Company has embedded sustainability into its business strategy.  What began with the launch of its first ‘Green Team’ in 2005 has evolved into a comprehensive corporate sustainability program, culminating in the achievement of a second-consecutive Carbon Integrity Platinum Claim in 2024. 

Bain’s highest priority for its internal sustainability program is to take substantial, transparent, and cost-effective actions to reduce its operational emissions. The company’s decarbonization strategy, detailed in its publicly available Climate Transition Plan, aligns with a 1.5°C pathway and includes short- and long-term targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

Guided by its Let’s Go Further strategy, Bain emphasizes the importance of immediate action alongside longer-term decarbonization goals. 

“Carbon credits should be last, but not later,” says Sam Israelit, Chief Sustainability Officer at Bain. “If we’re emitting carbon into the atmosphere, we shouldn’t wait until 2050 to remove it. We should act now.”  

“Carbon credits should be last, but not later.”

Since 2021, Bain has committed to being “net negative,” addressing more than 100% of its residual emissions through carbon removals. Each year, the company sources and retires a portfolio of high-quality carbon removal credits from both nature-based and technology-based solutions in excess of its total annual Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon footprint. 

Why Carbon Integrity? 

By following VCMI’s guidance and making a Carbon Integrity Claim, Bain is recognized for its leadership and the integrity of its program, with validation from a transparent, science-aligned, credible external standard. 

“The VCMI Claims Code sets a high bar,” says Israelit. “It defines what we believe is responsible use of carbon credits. It requires not only that the credits we purchase are high-quality, but also that we make meaningful progress in decarbonizing our operations and report our actions publicly. It’s the only claim that appropriately reflects the emissions mitigation hierarchy and demands transparent reporting.” 

While Bain’s climate policy already aligned with the Platinum Carbon Integrity Claim requirements, achieving full compliance required enhancing due diligence and increasing public disclosure of its carbon credit portfolio. 

The Business Case for Ambitious Climate Action 

  • Client Engagement: As companies prioritize sustainability within their supply chains, Bain has seen client requests for emissions data double year-on-year. Clients value the transparency and actionable insights Bain provides, frequently citing the company’s carbon management program as a model.
  • Employee Recruitment and Retention: Bain’s sustainability strategy differentiates it as an employer of choice. Rising interest in climate action among recruits has further strengthened Bain’s position in a competitive hiring market. Employee feedback also played a key role in the decision to become carbon net-negative.

Driving Impact Through Client Work 

Beyond its own operations, Bain leverages its consulting expertise to create significant impact through its client engagements. The firm partners with clients to design and implement decarbonization strategies, aligning their operations with science-based targets and driving measurable reductions across supply chains. Bain’s role in guiding industries toward net-zero transformations amplifies its impact far beyond its organizational footprint, making climate action an integral part of its advisory work. 

Bain recognizes that its greatest impact lies in empowering clients to reduce their emissions. Jean-Charles van den Branden, Partner and Head of Bain’s Global Sustainability practice, states: “Helping our clients navigate the complexities of decarbonization and sustainability is where we make the most significant contribution to addressing the climate crisis. It’s a responsibility we take seriously and a journey we are proud to lead.” 

Tackling scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions account for 98.5% of Bain’s total carbon footprint, with business travel contributing significantly. As a consulting firm, Bain relies on travel to build strong client relationships and deliver exceptional results. However, when analysing its emissions, Bain’s Global Sustainability team found that internal travel accounted for half of its travel footprint. 

In response, Bain implemented carbon budgets for internal functions, reducing internal travel emissions by over 30%. The company continues to travel for important client and cultural needs but does so more strategically—by consolidating meetings and choosing centralized locations for global training. 

Additionally, Bain engages suppliers through surveys, training, and educational materials. Climate discussions are integrated into procurement and onboarding processes, and the company uses the Ecovadis platform to manage supplier performance. Looking ahead, Bain plans to further reduce emissions from purchased goods and services by embedding ESG criteria into procurement policies and decision-making. 

Navigating evolving standards

Bain’s climate strategy is built on a foundation of transparency and good corporate citizenship. The company voluntarily discloses its climate actions according to the GRI standards and TCFD framework, earning a place on CDP’s A-list in 2023. Bain’s climate program evolves in line with standards as well as its internal goals – which for carbon credits, means having an externally validated, high-integrity portfolio. Its seasoned sustainability team has developed the ability to discern between standards and invest in those that add value to its strategy, noting: “That’s what led us to VCMI.” 

Looking ahead, Bain recognizes the need for continuous improvement to drive meaningful climate impact through its corporate sustainability program. Future initiatives include scaling the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for business travel, forming long-term partnerships to advance carbon removal technologies, and collaborating with clients to make climate-conscious decisions. Bain remains committed to adapting its climate program to meet evolving standards while maintaining its leadership in sustainability. 

 

 

Key takeaways

  • Understand the big picture: Carbon credits should complement, not replace, robust decarbonization efforts to ensure credibility and avoid greenwashing 
  • Learn from leaders: Benchmarking against industry pioneers can help avoid common pitfalls and accelerate progress
  • Start small, scale strategically: Incremental capacity building allows organizations to refine their approach and maximize climate impact 
  • Document decisions transparently: Informed, well-documented choices foster trust among internal and external stakeholders 
  • Align with best practices: Frameworks like VCMI provide reassurance and credibility in a complex and evolving standards landscape 

 

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