A Look at KAN's ESG Initiatives

At KAN, we believe that taking action can inspire others.That’s why we set our ESG ambitions deliberately high.  

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From CO₂ calculations to vegetarian PayDays, from accessible web design to pro bono collaborations, we approach sustainability, inclusion, and responsible business as part of an integrated strategy.

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Time to take you through our approach to Environmental, Social & Governance.

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Environmental – Reforestation & Lower Emissions

Thanks to our collaboration with Tree Nation under the KAN Woods initiative, we’ve planted tens of thousands of trees. This not only supports reforestation, but also helps improve local employment and quality of life for the communities involved.

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Closer to home, we’re also taking tangible steps. Our vegetarian PayDays, a moment to wrap up the work month with colleagues, have become a fixture. Through the Veggie Challenge, we encourage our team to eat vegetarian more often. What started as an experiment has grown into a beloved habit that’s healthy for both people and the planet.

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In 2023, we focused on better recycling. In 2024, we launched a carbon footprint analysis. Our emissions were measured across three scopes:

• Scope 3: Indirect emissions such as business travel, commuting, purchased goods and services.
• Scope 1 & 2: Direct emissions such as company vehicles, heating, and electricity use.
  
  

This analysis revealed that we emit an average of 5.83 tons of CO₂ per FTE. Based on that figure, we’ve set reduction targets to guide future improvements.

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What’s next?

• Expanding our sustainable value chain
  
• Analyzing emissions from our key suppliers
  
• Reducing our total emissions figure in 2025

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Social – Sharing Knowledge, Promoting Health, Embracing Inclusion

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KAN is not an island. What we know, we share. What we learn, we develop further, together. Internal knowledge-sharing sessions are a key part of our team culture.

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Externally, we engage through:

• Guest lectures at AP Hogeschool, Artevelde Hogeschool, School of Branding, UBA, ...
  
• Industry advisory board: AP Hogeschool
  
• Internship supervision for students from AP, Artevelde, and Thomas More
  
• Jury participation at School of Branding and AP Hogeschool

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We believe shared knowledge leads to better projects, stronger people, and greater social impact.

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On the fitness front, we participated for the third time in the 1000 km for Kom op tegen Kanker, and recently wrapped up a sport challenge where colleagues offered sessions in yoga, climbing, start-to-run, and power walking.

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Even small things make a difference.  Like simply taking the stairs up to the sixth floor more often.

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Diversity and inclusion are not buzzwords to us. During our monthly events, we address these topics with concrete tips and practical insights. We discuss subjects like inclusive language and show how small changes can have a big impact.

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We focus on:

• Clear information architecture
  
• Accessible language
  
• UX that works for everyone

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For us, digital sustainability is inseparable from inclusion, because no one should be excluded from digital experiences.

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In 2025, we were once again able to support a specific project pro bono. This time, we had the opportunity to collaborate with Buddywerking Vlaanderen as part of De Standaard Solidariteitsprijs. We created an ad with the message:
"Before you know it, an iconic duo is born."

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Buddywerking supports people with mental health vulnerabilities by pairing them with a volunteer buddy. It’s a powerful initiative that we are proud to support.

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Governance – Because Good Action Starts with Good Analysis

ESG is not a standalone project. It’s a way of working, thinking, and growing. That’s why we are building our governance structure with attention to stakeholder analysis, evaluation, and ethics. Following last year’s stakeholder analysis and management evaluation, this year we’re focusing further on a well-being policy, which we’ll share more about soon.

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Taking Initiative Is Inspiring

Through our initiatives, we aim to do better ourselves and inspire others to follow.By communicating transparently, we hope to motivate companies and individuals to take their own steps, because change starts with initiative. And sometimes, one good example is all it takes to spark a chain reaction. So here it is: Who’s in?

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Want to learn more?

Read our Sustainability Report