Carbon reduction plan
Published: July 2023
Commitment to achieving Net Zero
Verse Solutions is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Furthermore, through our Carbon Reduction Plan we are targeted to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2040.
To achieve the Net Zero by 2040 target, we will be required to minimise the emissions from gas and electricity usage within offices and resulting from the high proportion of staff home working. We must also identify more sustainable ways for our staff to get to work when they are required to commute.
Further improvements across the three emission scopes will come about as a matter of course (via UK Gov targets and requirements, evolution of industries, new regulations etc.) and will require active engagement by us with our suppliers and staff as well as development of supply chain and operational policy.
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.
Baseline Year: 01 March 2021 to 28 February 2022
Additional details relating to the baseline emissions calculations
We have made a comprehensive audit of the included scope emissions from this baseline year in order to get a full impression of business as usual. Our projections are based on growth of the business which are reflected in our Business-As-Usual CO2e emissions. We have made these calculations based on our Operational Control over our emissions.
Baseline year emissions:
EMISSIONS
TOTAL (tCO2e)
Scope 1
2.2
Scope 2
1.4
Scope 3
7.0
This includes the following sources which are within the inclusion categories for Scope 3:
- Waste Generated in Operations
- Business Travel
- Employee Commuting
Due to the nature of the business, whereby no physical products are transported in or out of the business by third parties, neither Upstream Transportation and Distribution nor Downstream Transportation and Distribution emissions are considered material.
Total emissions
10.6 (tCO2e)
Current emmissions reporting
Reporting Year: 01 March 2022 to 28 February 2023
EMISSIONS
TOTAL (tCO2e)
Scope 1
3.3
Scope 2
1.4
Scope 3
7.0
This includes the following sources which are within the inclusion categories for Scope 3:
- Waste Generated in Operations
- Business Travel
- Employee Commuting
Due to the nature of the business, whereby no physical products are transported in or out of the business by third parties, neither Upstream Transportation and Distribution nor Downstream Transportation and Distribution emissions are considered material.
Total emissions
11.7 (tCO2e)
Emissions reduction targets
In order to progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets.
We project that our Business As Usual (BAU) carbon emissions will increase over the next five years to 35.1 tCO2e by FY2027-28. This is a 3-fold increase in our BAU emissions due to the growth of our business.
Our current strategy is to make emissions reductions via a 3-stage CRP and conclude with zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. It is our current intention to practicably minimise all emissions by 2040. From that point we aim to offset all residual emissions such that our carbon footprint defined by this PPN is zero from 2040/41 through to 2050/51.
Therefore our target for 5 years from the Reporting Year is 26.33 tCO2e (a decrease of 25% against BAU).
Carbon reduction projects
To date we have maximised the home working potential of our staff thus minimising travel impacts and inefficient use of rented office space.
In the future we plan to implement further measures such as:
- Encourage efficient home working practices (e.g. temperature settings)
- Company-sponsored/supported home improvement programme
- Renewable energy buyers’ club
- Green commute to work schemes
- Policies on business travel (reduce car usage, use public transport)
- Waste stream improvement guidance, programmes including food purchase
We also anticipate these changes in UK industry and domestic assets which will help us to reduce our carbon footprint:
- Improvements in public transport
- Improvements in municipal waste management systems
- Decarbonisation of domestic gas boilers to heat pumps
Furthermore in future we aim to improve our carbon emissions monitoring and to undertake a full carbon footprint.
Declaration and sign off
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 and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting.
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.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
10th July 2023
