Phase One's path to sustainability

Sustainability at Phase One

At Phase One, we are working to integrate sustainability into how we design, produce, and support our technology. We recognize the importance of balancing innovation and environmental responsibility while supporting our customers in creating meaningful impact through the data they capture. 

Our approach focuses on continuous improvement—reducing our environmental footprint, strengthening responsible business practices, and supporting more efficient, data-driven decision-making through our technology. 

Our focus areas

Longevity and durability of our products

Our products are engineered for long-term performance, using high-quality materials that ensure durability and reduce the need for frequent replacement. Many of our cameras remain in operation for over 20 years—reflecting our commitment to reliability and long lifecycle value. By designing for longevity, we help customers maximize their investment while minimizing waste.

Ethical product use and innovation

We strive to ensure our technologies are used responsibly and deliver positive impact—supporting applications that contribute to society and informed decision-making.

Quality, accuracy and reliability

Phase One products enable users to capture more detail in less flight time, helping reduce the need for rework and repeat missions, which can lower resource use. High-quality data minimizes the need for rework and repeat missions—improving operational efficiency while lowering environmental impact.

Responsible manufacturing

Rather than focusing on mass production, we prioritize precision, quality, and longevity. We work closely with partners and suppliers to ensure responsible sourcing and manufacturing practices.

Supporting global sustainability goals, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 

Phase One is proud to be part of the UN Global Compact, which we joined in 2019. We are committed to its Ten Principles, covering responsible business practices across human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. 

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established by the United Nations to address the world’s most pressing challenges and help create a more sustainable and equitable future by 2030. These goals span key areas such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. 

Below are selected areas where we are taking steps and tracking progress: 

SDG Focus areas, achievements 2025, and goals 2026 

Energy efficiency in Japan
In 2024 and 2025, we transitioned to a 100% renewable energy in of our production while also continuously increasing our renewable energy sourcing for the rest of our facilities.

Waste management
In 2025 we pursued waste reduction program driving a 40% drop of our average monthly waste. In 2026 our focus is to further decrease our waste footprint by 20% through increase waste recycling.

Employee satisfaction and HR systems
We improved our GAIS employee survey score to 73 in 2025 and are working toward a score of 80 in 2026. The result is based on seven contributing factors and benchmarked against comparable companies. With an industry average of 71 out of 100, we already perform above our peers and have a clear ambition to raise the bar even further.

Gender equality in management
We joined the Danish Industry pledge to achieve a 40/60 gender balance in management by 2030. In 2026, we will focus on increasing the number of womentargeting 30% of new hires to be women.

Sustainability certifications and ESG compliance
In 2023, we began strengthening our ESG approach, including identifying gaps in certifications and improving incident reporting processes. In 2026, we will implement compliance training regarding code of conduct and compliance policies. 

Safety and supplier code of conduct
In 2024, we began to strengthen safety and working conditions in Japan to ensure that both existing and new production suppliers sign our Supplier Code of Conduct, leading to 0 work-related accidents in 2025, which we aim to continue in 2026.

SDG 5 – Gender equality 

We have signed the Gender Diversity Pledge—an initiative by the Confederation of Danish Industry—committing to a 40/60 gender balance in leadership by 2030. 

At Phase One, we believe that diverse teams drive better decisions and stronger outcomes. Attracting and retaining talented people from different backgrounds is key to our continued success. 

Want to be part of the journey? Explore opportunities on our careers page.

SDG 8 – Driving inclusive growth and responsible business practices 

We are committed to creating a workplace where people can thrive—fostering engagement, transparency, and continuous improvement. 

Through clear governance frameworks, a Code of Conduct for employees and our main suppliers, and a whistleblower scheme, we ensure responsible practices across our organization and supply chain—supporting fair, safe, and ethical working conditions. 

SDG 12 – Ensure responsible consumption and product lifecycles 

We are committed to reducing environmental impact through how we design, produce, and support our products. 

By following ISO 14001 standards and focusing on durability, we extend product lifecycles—supporting cameras for more than 20 years. This reduces waste and promotes more responsible use of resources. 

Our approach prioritizes quality over quantity, ensuring reliable performance while minimizing environmental impact—helping our customers meet their own sustainability goals. 

Commitment to sustainability: 100% CO₂-free electricity

At Phase One Japan Co. Ltd., we are committed to sourcing electricity from renewable energy, supporting our goal of reducing emissions and operating more sustainably. 

Enabling real-world impact through our customers

We are proud to support our customers as they tackle complex, real-world challenges. 

Using Phase One technology, they contribute to projects such as:
• Environmental monitoring
• Coastal and marine protection
• Infrastructure planning
• Climate research and mapping 

These applications show how high-quality imaging enables better decisions and more informed, long-term outcomes. 

ENVIRONMENTAL & CONSERVATION

Tracking wildlife with a custom-built aerial data acquisition platform

Building a customized, cost-effective, ultra-light aircraft for surveying, filming and tracking animals in wild and remote environments was a project recently profiled in a BBC documentary. Undertaken by Professor Alan Wilson, head of a research department at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, and his team to study cheetahs and their prey in the vast savannahs of southern Africa. The Guardians’ goal: “A world where humanity is mobilized to learn about, contribute to, advocate for, and invest in regenerative solutions to heal our planet and all its living systems.”

EXPLORE

GREEN REBEL, AERIAL

Breaking barriers to offshore wind energy development

A key element of offshore wind development is the mitigation of environmental impacts. Accurate data regarding the distribution of marine megafauna at a proposed site is critical to safe and sustainable project siting – protecting marine wildlife as well as preventing negative impacts on important feeding or breeding habitats. Moreover, this intelligence can serve as a baseline from which changes can be monitored post-construction to assess any future potential impacts of site development on the distribution of marine wildlife.

explore
Phase One aerial mapping in forestry and agriculture

GEOSPATIAL

Detecting forest tree diseases using a large-format camera on an ultralight aircraft

AlterGeo efficiently locates individual parasite infestations over a large area of Polish forest canopy and assesses tree damage, using a PAS 280 photogrammetric camera.

EXPLORE

To minimize our carbon footprint, we utilize a small, fuel-efficient plane. The Alter-Eye aircraft emits just 29 kg of carbon dioxide per hour, offering a remarkable reduction in carbon footprint compared to traditional models, which emit around 250 kg per hour. By contrast, a typical car has a carbon footprint of 15 kg/h at 100 km/h. Phase One supplies the compact camera systems necessary for this, as they are the only provider capable of delivering such small, efficient systems

ANTONY LABAJ

CEO AT ALTERGEO

With great support from Phase One we completed a very successful flight over one of the world’s iconic events. The camera technology of the PAS 150 system delivered high quality imagery and because the PAS 150 system is robust, compact and lightweight we could fly using our fuel efficient and low carbon emission Diamond DA-42 aircraft.

PAUL EVANS

SENIOR BUSINESS MANAGER FOR DEA

The Phase One iXM RS150F camera provides crisp, clear, high-resolution imagery free of blur, allowing us to identify even small birds on the sea surface from around 1800 ft. altitude at speeds of 110 knots, ​ To date we have successfully performed more than one hundred and fifty digital aerial marine ecology surveys in UK and Irish waters. We get consistently high species ID rates due to the high-quality of our imagery. Green Rebel are proud to support the transition to cleaner, greener, more sustainable energy while protecting marine wildlife. Thanks to Phase One aerial technologies, we have the equipment and the support we need to achieve this.

SARAH KANDROT

PHD, HEAD OF THE AERIAL DIVISION AT GREEN REBEL