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We’re on a journey to continuously improve and intentionally embed sustainability into the way we do business. We strive to lead by example in how we manage our firm, guided by ethics that enable trust and a shared sense of responsibility for the wellbeing of people and the planet.

Governance

We’re committed to promoting the highest standards of ethics in every part of our business. This commitment to governing with the utmost integrity and respect for our colleagues and clients is crucial to building and keeping the trust that’s vital to our firm’s growth.

Board

Our company is entirely owned by current employees who are the shareholders. Despite being a privately-held company, our shareholders strive to achieve public company governance standards by, among other measures, appointing an independent board of directors that is led by an independent board chair. This independent governance structure helps ensure that we are always challenging ourselves to meet the highest business and ethical standards owed to our constituents. We have also taken additional steps to ensure that the executive committee of our shareholders is adequately diverse to represent all relevant interests.

Ethics and Integrity

At the heart of our firm are people who genuinely care about people. We respect the law and universal principles for human rights in everything we do—from how we treat our colleagues to how we interact with candidates and clients. We expect the companies we work with to have the same standards.

We’re committed to promoting ethical behavior within our operations, business partnerships, and risk management, ensuring the highest standards of ethics and integrity through our governance frameworks, education, and policies such as a best-in-class code of conduct. We also provide ways to anonymously report transgressions through a telephone hotline and ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Human Rights

We believe businesses must advocate for the protection of human rights. As a Participant in the UN Global Compact, RRA embeds the program’s ten principles across our operations, so we can introduce work practices that protect the human rights of our colleagues as well as people throughout our value chain.

Our Code of Conduct promotes a culture of inclusion and respect by detailing policies for preventing discrimination and harassment in our workplace. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for our business partners to prevent discrimination and protect human rights and dignity in their working environments.

For more on our approach to human rights, please see our sustainability policies and reporting information.

Data Security and Privacy

RRA has a long-standing commitment to security and privacy. With a foundation of compliance and implementing best practices, we remain one step ahead to maintain the trust of our clients, employees, and partners as technology continues to rapidly evolve.

Data Security

We ensure that systems and processes are embedded in our practices to detect and prevent loss, corruption, or unauthorized access to client and company data. To maintain the highest levels of data security, we stay up to date on our ISO 27001 certification, a globally recognized third-party assurance on the security of our systems. We also implement strategies such as host-based detection and protection platforms including scanning inbound and outbound emails and attachments and have a 24/7 SOC team monitoring for malicious content. Our ongoing training programs provide every colleague with the knowledge and skills needed to take part in enhancing our data security.

Data Privacy

We strive to make our practices as transparent as possible in how we use candidate, client, and employee data. Privacy is essential to our business, which is why we are at the forefront of driving and adopting industry standards and best practices, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Environment

Our approach to environmental sustainability focuses on reducing our negative impact on the planet and creating opportunities to improve environmental quality. We started this journey by learning how we could tackle the most significant contributors to our environmental footprint and helping our clients do the same.

We found four substantial opportunities:
	Buildings our working environments should be healthy for people and the planet	Waste we should support all colleagues to cut waste in everything we do	Supplier Engagement our purchasing power should support businesses that make a positive environmental impact	Business Travel we should lead by example and inspire environmentally responsible travel practices

Our Path to Net Zero

RRA has formally committed to setting a near-term, science-based Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction target and long-term Net Zero emissions target through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Aligning with the SBTi’s target-setting criteria will require RRA to reach Net Zero emissions from our entire value chain, with a minimum reduction in absolute emissions of 90% by no later than 2050, focusing our efforts primarily on emissions reduction through decarbonization and limiting our dependence on carbon offsetting. We intend to achieve SBTi verification of near-term and long-term targets in 2023.

We will make progress on our Net Zero journey by adapting the ways we work, specifically in our four critical impact areas: buildings, waste, supplier engagement, and business travel.

Environmental Data Gathering

A data-driven approach is the starting point for our Net Zero journey.

In 2022, we calculated the firm’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions by engaging with our office teams and property management to obtain values for our direct and indirect energy consumption. We also conducted a full scope 3 screening assessment to determine the magnitude of the emissions from our full value chain. This understanding of our emissions sources and impacts positioned us to formalize goals and introduce strategies to minimize our environmental footprint in the near and long term.

The data collection process also gave us the opportunity to reflect on the impacts of COVID-19. The pandemic exacerbated socioeconomic hardships in an immeasurable way, the results of which are still felt today. Conversely, the pandemic also revealed new, more efficient, and resourceful ways of living and working. We learned many lessons that will help us become a better steward for our communities and the planet in the future.

RRA Global Emissions Portfolio Summary (in tCo2e)

Russell Reynolds Associates engaged Apex Companies for an independent, third-party limited assurance verification of our greenhouse gas emissions data. Here are their conclusions:

• 2022: Verification Opinion Declarations for Scopes 1, 2 and 3 
• 2019-2021: Verification Opinion Declarations for Scopes 1 and 2, and for Scope 3.

_{At RRA, our Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from fuel combustion—both on-site in our offices and mobile combustion from our vehicles—and from refrigerants used at the buildings where our offices are located. Our Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the energy we purchase for electricity, heating and cooling.}

Environmental Goal Setting

We recognize that every company—RRA included—must take immediate action to reduce harm to our shared planet. Environmental stewardship has been a priority at RRA for many years, and in 2019 we sharpened our approach using data analysis to gain a clear view of the opportunities to reduce our emissions and waste.

Through this process we solidified:

1. Our ambitions in our four critical areas of impact and opportunity.
2. Our short-term goals to drive immediate progress. This work will support our long-term approach to further drive progress toward Net Zero emissions.

In addition to the first wave of environmental sustainability goals below, we are committed to setting a near-term science-based GHG emissions reduction target and long-term Net Zero emissions goal, to be verified by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023.

Environmental Highlights

Every action makes a difference in moving our firm toward a more environmentally sustainable future. We are proud of our many environmental achievements and are inspired to move ahead with more ambitious goals.

   Real Estate Footprint Reduction

Reduced our real estate footprint by 30% from 2019 baseline by optimizing our footprint for a hybrid workspace.

   Energy Transition

Replaced our internal systems with softphone to improve hybrid-work efficiency, minimize technology footprint, and reduce power consumption in the offices.

   Recycling

By responsibly reusing and recycling 6,364 total pounds of electronics in 2021, the equivalent of seven US households’ annual garbage generation was diverted from disposal to beneficial reuse:

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