Publication date: 10 April 2024
Commitment to achieving Net Zero
Answer Digital is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040. We engaged with Carbon Neutral Britain in April 2023, with the ambition to measure and offset the total organisation emissions - to become Carbon Neutral.
Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline emissions are a record of the greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced prior to the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. Baseline emissions are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.
Our baseline emissions have been calculated using tooling provided by GHG to calculate emissions based on limited available data points. Our methodology is documented and will be consistent for future measurements. Additional data points will be captured in future to enable more detailed emissions calculations.
Baseline Year: 1st January - 31st December 2019
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | Purchased Electricity Market Based: 24.81 |
| Scope 3 | Business Travel: 22.80 |
| Total Emissions | 47.61 |
Current Emissions Reporting
Reporting Year: 1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 (Direct Emissions) | 11.04 |
| Scope 2 (Energy Indirect) | 8.00 |
| Scope 3 (Other Indirect) | 129.82 |
| Total Emissions | 148.85 |
Carbon Neutral Status
Emissions Reduction Targets
We are committed to becoming Net Zero by 2040 or sooner across all of our operations. In order to continue our progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted a reduction target of at least 7% per annum year on year compared to our pre-pandemic emissions levels, increasing to 20% per annum from 2030, to be achieved in line with our Carbon Emission reductions strategy as further detailed in this plan.
Carbon Reduction Projects
Carbon Reduction Initiatives
The following environmental management measures and projects are have been implemented or are being implemented on an ongoing basis since the baseline and will continue to deliver reductions in our total emissions:
Business premises, staff and travel
- Working remotely where possible, promoting the use of alternatives such as video/phone conferences, travelling only when necessary. Since lockdown, our people have shown the same levels of productivity working remotely and the use of digital tools allows effective communication through projects.
- All internal servers have been migrated to the cloud, removing the need for a 24/7 air-conditioned server room.
- Creating local teams (permanent, contractors, suppliers) for on-site work to minimise travel.
- Our cycle to work scheme encourages employees to avoid car travel for work.
- Our green car incentive scheme encourages electric vehicles to be affordable leased (through salary sacrifice) for work and personal transport.
- Promoting use of public transport for company travel, favouring green transport where possible.
- Seeking to reduce energy waste, e.g. using energy efficient equipment and ‘turn off when not in use’ policy. Example: 2021, Answer has replaced all internal lighting with low energy LED lights.
- Answer is evaluating the viability of moving to a renewable power source for our office and is currently conducting feasibility assessments for both solar and air source power.
- Encouraging minimal use of printing, increased recycling and a elimination of single use plastics in offices, including providing staff reusable cups and water bottles (all staff issued water bottles)
- Facilitating volunteering opportunities for when staff are between projects, to support environment initiatives, agreeing a fixed number of days per year.
Use of technology
- Adopting a ‘sustainable by design’ approach to projects
- IT Equipment meets Regulation No 106/2008 on energy-efficiency labelling programmes for office equipment and we typically purchase laptops over desktops (80% less energy). Device refresh is a 4- year cycle with devices being donated to charity or bought through employee purchase schemes.
- Re-issuing IT equipment wherever possible to reduce the purchase/disposal of end user devices, documenting the age at point of disposal with asset registers.
Declaration and Sign Off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with Carbon Neutral Britain and associated guidance and reporting standards for Carbon Reduction Plans.
Answer Digital has met Carbon Neutral Britain Certification™ standards in measuring, calculating and carbon offsetting organisational carbon emissions.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
Signed on behalf of the Supplier
James Page
Chief Commercial Officer
Date: April 2024