Sustainability

We are working to reduce our overall energy consumption and transition to renewable energy sources. In partnership with our suppliers, we will also continue to reduce waste and improve material efficiency.

Reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions 

Based on our Scope 1 and 2 emissions inventory, we will reduce these emissions based on the results of the inventory by: 

• Reducing the use of natural gas at all our sites 
• Increasing usage of renewable energy as using solar panels to power our Querétaro facility 
• Continuing to reduce our global power consumption at our main sites through LED lighting and white roofs 
• Identifying actions to reduce our carbon footprint at our Shenzhen and Pune facilities 

Measure Scope 3 emissions 

We will measure Scope 3 GHG emissions related to: 

• Purchased goods and services 
• Upstream transportation for distribution 
• Waste generated in the manufacturing process 

Reduce Scope 3 emissions 

Based on the results of Goal 2, we will identify action plans to reduce sources of inventoried Scope 3 GHG emissions. 

Through eco-design practices, we aim to increase the use of responsibly sourced, low environmental impact materials in future product design, optimize waste reduction through products that have minimal packaging, are easy to repair and can be recycled, and apply a circular economy model to EXFO products (reuse, refurbish, recycle).

Conduct a product lifecycle assessment 

In partnership with a specialized firm, conduct lifecycle assessments of select existing products and use them to define new design directives that will help development teams create innovative new products with a minimal environmental footprint. 

Harmonize our manufacturing with our customers’ recycling regulations 

EXFO will appraise the end-of-life and recycling programs used by its main customers and ensure that products designed in the future comply with these programs’ recycling regulations. 

Better packaging 

Continue initiatives in partnership with our suppliers to increase the percentage of reusable/ recyclable and biodegradable materials in their packaging. 

We aim to increase the prominence of sustainable and ethical sourcing targets in our supplier qualification tools, sending a clear signal throughout our supply chain that responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices are a priority for us. 

Raise the profile of sustainable and ethical sourcing

We will raise the profile of sustainable and ethical sourcing targets in our supplier qualification tools by increasing the weight of existing criteria and identifying new sustainable and ethical sourcing criteria, including Scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction and sustainable packaging practices (minimal, reusable, recyclable, recycled or biodegradable packaging). 

Onboard suppliers on our new qualification tools

We will onboard all new suppliers using this new qualification tool and progressively integrate existing Tier 1 suppliers. 

We seek to ensure that well-being and mental health remain top of mind at EXFO. Critical to our success is having better insight into the state of wellness at EXFO and measuring the impact of our initiatives with the right metrics. 

Increase mental health awareness

We will increase mental health awareness and tackle the stigma around mental health by: 

• positioning our leaders as mental health ambassadors 
• promoting healthy connectivity habits 
• launching a mental health and well-being prevention campaign 
• introducing mental health and psychological safety into the Leadership Development Program 
• expanding local onsite health services/activities 

Enhance work-life balance

We will enhance work-life balance, promote employee well-being, and foster a family-friendly workplace by: 

• reviewing and adapting our mental health benefits offering 
• providing training to promote a positive and balanced workplace culture 
• analyzing current and defining new guidelines for family and work-life balance

We will invest more resources in talent development and education. Central to our innovation success is peer-to-peer learning. We will continue to offer these opportunities for skills-sharing and growth. 

Offer more learning opportunities

We will offer opportunities to foster employee development and education by: 

• holding learning events focused on technology through peer learning 
• recognizing and rewarding people who invest efforts in learning 
• launching a Leadership Development Program 

Facilitate access to learning and education

We will facilitate access to diverse sources of development by: 

• introducing a pool of internal experts as coaches 
• adding a culture of learning and sharing knowledge as part of EXFO’s core values

Leverage engagement fostering technology

We will introduce technology that fosters engagement to connect employees and engage them in learning. 

We aim to improve the representation of women and other underrepresented groups at EXFO, knowing that awareness and understanding are the bedrock of a truly cohesive and innovative workplace and that a broad spectrum of backgrounds enriches our collective creativity and insight.

Define our DEI strategy 

We will define EXFO’s DEI vision and strategy by: 

• defining and communicating EXFO’s DEI commitment to internal and external stakeholders and define key DEI metrics 
• launching a DEI awareness campaign for all employees 
• introducing a DEI component into the Leadership Development Program 
• communicating DEI initiatives and progress to employees 

Encourage community involvement 

We will encourage employee involvement and inclusivity in the community by: 

• offering an annual paid day for volunteer work 
• organizing regular opportunities to volunteer in the local community 
• continuing to support United Way (Canada) and other fundraising campaigns 

Improve the representation of underrepresented groups 

We will increase the representation of employees from underrepresented groups by: 

• establishing recruitment partnerships with organizations and universities representing diverse groups 
• conducting a DEI survey 
• creating a mentorship program 

EXFO aims to maintain a high level of information security to prevent operational disruptions caused by cyber threats such as data breaches, system hacks and other cybersecurity incidents.

Meet information security standards 

Aligning with our ambition to prevent operational disruptions caused by cyber threats by maintaining a high level of information security, we will make notable strides in meeting the security requirements of industry-specific standards, by prioritizing them based on our customers’ needs and executing a comprehensive compliance strategy. 

We understand the significance of data protection and we are committed to protecting privacy rights of individuals by implementing rigorous processes that secure the personal information we handle in compliance with applicable legislation.

Improve compliance with data privacy legislation 

We will continue to comply with current and future data privacy legislation by continuously aligning our data privacy practices. Our focus in the coming years will be on improving our processes to comply with the evolving requirements set forth by Quebec’s Act respecting the protection of personal information and for new products, services and processes to comply by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

We are committed to ensuring that our products cannot be used as a gateway for cyber- attacks. We implement secure development practices and continually monitor and improve product security to mitigate potential risks.

Continuously improve the security of our products

We will implement a strategy focused on improving our development practices, fostering a security-conscious culture, and maintaining active vigilance. Our holistic approach includes maintaining the rigor of our development processes and ensuring the security of our development environments. 

We will address vulnerabilities at every stage of the development lifecycle, equip our developers with the latest secure coding knowledge through comprehensive training, and proactively research emerging threats.