Our net zero plan

• We’ve put emission reduction among our top organisational priorities and strive to set the example for how this should be done.
• Each member of our senior leadership team to allocate responsibility for delivering the net zero plan in their department.  
• A permanent net zero taskforce to be set up. This should include at least one member of the senior leadership team and several employees from across the organisation.  
• All employees should have interest in decarbonisation, climate change and sustainability within their skills matrix.

• We’ve been certified with ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) since 1999. 
• We developed a water action plan and achieved Waterwise Checkmark Accreditation for the Edinburgh office.
• We’ll continue to submit our Net Zero SBTi aligned targets via the Science Based Targets Initiative.  

• Collaborated with our internal communications team to ensure net zero concepts are understood by colleagues and how they can implement them in their work.  
• Ensured our induction process includes vital information around our net zero targets as well as providing information and tools for employees to begin their own net zero journey. 
• Increased climate science education for all employees, through online courses or training workshops such as Climate Fresk.
• Created eLearning modules on a sustainable IT use and homeworking

• Operate and promote our employee loan scheme. This lets employees get an interest-free loan to use specifically towards something that saves energy or reduces GHG emissions.  
• Review our cycle to work scheme to ensure that all employees (including disabled employees) have access to this benefit. 
• Offer employees a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing electric vehicles.  
• Expanded our wellbeing allowance to include energy saving measures. 
• Encourage employees to use their two days of volunteering, which can be used for community and environmental activities. 
• We offer a thermal camera and air quality meter borrowing scheme to colleagues across the organisation. Using these technologies helps colleagues identify thermal and air quality issues in their home and find out how to make improvements.

• When choosing energy suppliers and tariffs, we’ll prioritise those with the most credible connection to and potential positive impact, as well as new renewable generation/production capacity. We’ll prioritise suppliers that publish transparent details of renewable generation facilities used over suppliers relying on Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin or similar certificates.  
• Continue developing and improving our waste management procedure, which promotes conscious consumption and requires following waste hierarchy in decision-making processes.
• Annually assess and introduce methods to improve our water usage monitoring systems.

• Continually improve our sustainable procurement policy, to encourage low carbon procurement behaviours. 
• Launch a digital procurement tool to collect suppliers’ environmental credentials to inform the supplier section process. We’ll also favour products and services from suppliers that have strong environmental credentials.  
• Collect emissions data from as many suppliers as possible, regardless of the value of spend.  
• Design new contractual obligations for our suppliers to influence continuous improvement of their environmental credentials and cutting their emissions.  
• Support our suppliers to reduce their environmental impact and achieve objectives that align with our mission. 
• Investigate the environmental credentials of our bank accounts. 

•  Reduce our server footprint by combining infrastructure services.
• Conduct regular audits of our IT equipment and decommission unused and redundant equipment. 
• Implement a circular economy approach when procuring IT equipment.  

• Continually improve and promote sustainability guidelines for organising internal and external events. 
• Only supply vegetarian food (with vegan options) with a consideration for locality and seasonality at organisation events such as lunch etings and leadership events.  

Enhance the current emissions accounting methodology and data collection processes to better identify areas of improvement.

• Continually improve our employee travel policies to promote active travel and public transport with clear guidance for employees and managers. 
• We only reimburse vegetarian and/or vegan meals. We recognise that adhering to this policy may pose challenges for some employees due to dietary restrictions. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment we’ll consider exceptions to this policy on a case by case basis. 
• Raise awareness that employees aren’t required to stay in a hotel when travelling for business. Alternative accommodation often has lower associated emissions. 

• We’ll maintain our fully flexible working policy is a major factor in minimising commuting.  
• Our offices must have the facilities that enable sustainable travel and commuting practices. 
• When selecting offices, convenient public transport and national rail links within walking distance should be a key consideration. Car parking should be de-prioritised while ensuring well-connected active travel infrastructure is provided. Where the offices do have parking spaces, they should be converted to include charge points for EVs where practical. 
• Offer sustainable home working guidance to help employees develop low-carbon behaviours. 
• Provide guidance on how to travel to the offices sustainably. 

We’ve chosen our default pension fund based on environmental criteria.