In line with our vision to become a more Diverse and Sustainable business, we took the decision to voluntarily report and publish our carbon emissions. In doing this we have been able to calculate, reduce and offset our emissions to achieve CarbonNeutral® company certification in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol, the leading global framework for carbon neutrality.
Through our carbon offsetting program we are reducing emissions and delivering low carbon sustainable development by supporting and investing in two carbon offset projects. Together, these projects meet all 17 Global Goals for sustainable developments and form part of the following global carbon standards:
Gold Standard
Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB)
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)
The chosen projects, highlighted below, reduce carbon emissions in connection with forest conservation and renewable energy.
Kulera Redd + Cookstoves
Malawi
Through the combination of forest protection and the distribution of clean cookstoves, the project is using carbon finance to deliver significant emissions reductions, protect an important area of biodiversity value, and address the health risks of indoor air pollution.
The project is targeting the conservation of approximately 170,000 hectares of forest and working with 45,000 households to reduce fuelwood use, develop sustainable livelihoods, increase community resilience to climate change, and promote biodiversity.
Renewable energy projects in this portfolio are vital to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the growing global demand for energy and build sustainable infrastructure. Energy generation is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and renewable energy investment is a fast and effective solution to reduce these emissions. Carbon finance, delivered by companies who offset their emissions, provides essential funds to support the development of global renewable projects.
We are committed to continuing to reduce our business emissions, with the target to be Net Zero by 2040, ten years ahead of the standard Carbon Reduction Plan requirements, set out by the UK government.