Sustainability - our progress

We are committed to ensuring that by 2030 we become a climate positive business and we have an ambitious sustainability plan to help us get there. We have already made great strides as a business and here are some of the highlights. 

• Cut our carbon intensity by 62.85% since 2014/15 
• Offset all of our emissions since 2018, and now offset more than we generate having fixed our offsetting level in 2020 and made further carbon reduction – meaning we are classed as ‘climate positive’ 

• Declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and our commitment to take positive action. 
• Committed to the Race to Zero pledge, to formalise our targets and approach to net zero. 
• Joined five other leading Edinburgh businesses and employers to sign a pledge – the Edinburgh Climate Compact – aimed at sparking radical action on climate change across the city.
• Became partners in Climate Action groups for Dundee and Yorkshire. 
• Signed the Terra Carta (Prince Charles’ Sustainable Markets Initiative), and actively support the Sustainable Buildings Taskforce.

• Continued to deliver carbon literacy training to our employees, helping empower them to make informed decisions around sustainability / carbon emissions in their day-to-day roles 
• Established Responsible Business Leadership and Action Groups, and engaged our young people with a decarbonisation project during our Catalyst Conference 

• Developed long-term solutions to sustainability challenges through Clear Futures, an outcome-driven partnership for the public sector.  
• Designing and constructing resource-efficient homes, buildings and infrastructure to minimise energy, operational costs and overall carbon emissions.  
• Through our Facilities Management team, effectively manage energy demand and supply for thousands of buildings across the UK. 

We have a detailed approach to meeting our 2030 targets through our Carbon Management Plan 2030. We are using cutting-edge and creative solutions to reduce our emissions and continuing to make our business more efficient and sustainable. 

• 100% renewable electricity for offices, factories and sites. 
• ‘green’ gas for offices & factories. 
• ‘green’ plant list, with hybrid generators, solar tower lights, and efficient site accommodation. 
• Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to replace red diesel (with 90% less emissions). 
• Zero emissions fleet strategy, with electric vehicles available at every company car level & EV commercial vehicle roll-out initiated. 
• Supporting our supply chain to upskill and increase awareness around sustainability as a partner of the Supply Chain Sustainability School, which provides free sustainability self-assessments, development programmes and training content. 
• We have signed a Sustainable Growth Agreement with SEPA, focusing on supporting our supply chain to reduce their environmental impact.