Carbon Net Zero

Atalian Servest will be a carbon net zero company by 2030

Exceeding the government’s 2050 target by 20 years.

At Atalian Servest, we’re passionate about sustainability. It’s part of our DNA. More than 25 years ago, long before it was fashionable, we started the business with a core promise: to use only the most environmentally-friendly cleaning agents and techniques possible. Today, with a diverse team of 28,000 colleagues operating across the UK & Ireland, sustainability remains a key focus.

As a major supplier, the UK Government has set us a target to be carbon net zero by 2050. Not only will we deliver that target, we’ll exceed it by 20 years, becoming a carbon net zero company by 2030. It’s a vast undertaking for a business of our size and scale, but one we’re totally committed to.

Our emissions

Reporting Scope 3 emissions for 2020, as well as Scope 1 and Scope 2.

We’ve measured and reported our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions since 2014. However, for 2020, we’re also including five Scope 3 emission categories. 2020 will therefore become our baseline year against which we will measure and report our progress.

Our total emissions in 2020 were 120,194 tonnes kgCO₂e.

A DECADE OF CARBON REDUCTION FOR SCOTTISH COURTS & TRIBUNALS SERVICE

In 2011, Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service made a ground-breaking decision. Ahead of even most private sector organisations, Scottish Courts adopted an aggressive target to reduce their CO2 emissions by 5% year-on-year. Not only did they want to meet, and exceed, government initiatives for carbon reduction, but they also recognised the opportunity to drive down energy costs and ensure their buildings were fit for the 21^st century.

Following a competitive tender, Atalian Servest were awarded a Total Facilities Management (TFM) contract for their complex estate in 2011. Included in the tender requirements was to work in partnership with Scottish Courts’ Energy Manager to devise and implement an energy and facilities strategy to deliver the aggressive carbon reduction target.

Switching to electric vehicles

Our fleet accounts for 93% of our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Reducing fleet emissions is our No. 1 priority.

Our fleet is the largest source of direct emissions. It’s why we have already started switching our entire fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles where we can. Of course, switching to electric or hybrid vehicles is only part of the challenge. Building a charging infrastructure at all our locations is the other.

With that in mind, our immediate focus is to create an effective charging infrastructure. We’re accelerating the installation of charging points, every one of our offices will have them installed by 2023.

And, by 2030, every viable vehicle in our fleet will be electric or hybrid. This is our No. 1 carbon priority and will deliver the largest reduction in our direct emissions.

Carbon neutral buildings by 2030

Doing what we can ourselves. Working with our landlords to deliver the rest.

We’re already accredited for both ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 and we’re actively using these programmes and our Environmental Management systems to drive down emissions from our buildings.

Because our buildings are leased, we’re working with landlords to switch boilers to low carbon, to switch A/C units away from F Gas, to improve thermal efficiency and to install solar power. We won’t renew or sign new leases that won’t deliver carbon neutral buildings by 2030.

Switching to renewable energy

By 2025, 100% of our electricity will come from renewable sources.

Electricity is obviously essential for running both our offices and our electric fleet. However, the type of electricity we use makes a huge difference to the emissions we’re responsible for.

It’s why we’re switching all our electricity to ensure it comes from renewable sources. We’ll have completed the switchover by 2025.

Building a carbon neutral supply chain

Working with our suppliers to measure, reduce and offset our Scope 3 emissions.

While we don’t directly control our suppliers’ emissions, they are an important part of our carbon footprint. It’s why we’re working with our suppliers to ensure our supply chain is carbon neutral (to us) by 2030.

We’re already working with our suppliers to drive carbon reduction and sustainability. As part of this initiative, we’re setting a clear policy for suppliers that will see them measure, reduce and offset the emissions they create that are measured in our own Scope 3 emissions.

Harnessing our entire workforce in our battle to reduce carbon

Our CarbonEyes campaign will involve every one of our 28,000 colleagues.

We’ve set ambitious carbon targets and established major initiatives to achieve them. However, while initiatives led by our senior team are essential, we know that meeting our targets – and those of our clients – will require the involvement of our entire workforce. It’s why we are developing our CarbonEyes programme.

Using our unique Opportunity learning platform, we’ll be offering carbon and sustainability training to every one of our 28,000 colleagues. We’re also putting in place feedback solutions that will give every colleague an opportunity to spot and report ways to reduce our carbon footprint. And it isn’t something we’re keeping to ourselves. We’ll also be working in partnership with our clients to introduce CarbonEyes on their sites to help them achieve their own carbon reduction targets.

Cutting commuting emissions

Driving down our colleagues’ commuting emissions.

With a team of 28,000 colleagues across the country, commuting represents a significant source of emissions. We’re working across the business to reduce it.

We’re redoubling our efforts on three key commuting policies. We actively promote the Cycle to Work scheme to every colleague and are ensuring our sites are all equipped for safe storage of bicycles when at work. We’ve already seen a solid uptake which we intend to increase. We’re also introducing a car share scheme to reduce commuting miles. Finally, we’re incentivising the use of electric or hybrid vehicles, using changes to our company car policy to encourage greater uptake.

Prioritising local recruitment

Expanding the number of colleagues living within 10 miles of their work.

The best way to cut commuting emissions is to recruit colleagues that live close to their workplace. It’s why, wherever possible, we prioritise applicants that live within 10 miles of where they work – preferably close enough to make walking and cycling easy options.

Of course, recruiting local colleagues doesn’t just cut emissions. It’s also an important part of our commitment to developing social value, with colleagues playing an active role in the communities in which they live and work.

Selecting only high-quality offset schemes

As part of achieving carbon net zero, we will offset where required, ensuring we are supporting causes we’re passionate about.

Some level of offset will be always be required. In these cases, we’re committed to doing more than simply reducing carbon.

We’re selecting our offset schemes with care and purpose to ensure they have a positive effect on our suppliers and clients. Examples of offset schemes we’re planning include installing solar panels in schools and supplying woodstoves to coffee farmers in areas where we source the beans for our Groundhouse coffee.

Partnering with our clients to help deliver their carbon targets

Our CarbonImpact programmes measure, report and reduce client emissions.

Driving down our own carbon emissions is clearly important. However, the real prize is driving down the much larger emissions of our clients. It’s why we’ve introduced our CarbonImpact programmes, in which any client can enrol. First, we’ll measure and report all our contract-related emissions, providing accurate data for our clients’ own Scope 3 emissions. We’ll also develop a clear plan to reduce and offset them, using our innovative carbon dashboards.

For clients wanting to reduce their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emission, our CarbonImpact+ service will help measure, analyse, manage and improve their entire carbon footprint – from lighting refreshes and switching to low-emission HVAC units to reducing water and waste. It’s an approach we’ve used for years – enabling us to reduce carbon emissions for one major client by 33%.

Developing our use of environmental management systems

Expanding the reach and impact of our environmental management systems.

We’re compliant with, and accredited to, both ISO 14001 (energy management) and ISO 50001 (carbon management). Combined with our Environmental Management & Monitoring systems, we’re already effectively monitoring and driving down our emissions.

We’re now expanding the reach and impact of these systems to include our clients’ sites. For clients we are partnering with on our CarbonImpact programmes, we can ensure accurate carbon measurement, the development of clear reduction plans and compliance with all appropriate regulations – all available via clear, detailed dashboards.

Declaration

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.

Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard[1] and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting[2].

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard[3].

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors.

[1] https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting

[3] https://ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard

Daniel Dickson, CEO, Atalian Servest Ltd.