Net Zero Week, held this year from 4th to 10th July, is a opportunity to reflect on what the UK’s transition to net zero means in practice. For us, that means looking outward at how we support clients, and inward at how we operate as a business.
Our own commitment
We hold ISO 14001 environmental management accreditation, first achieved in 2006, giving us an audited framework for reducing the environmental impact and reviewing performance and setting targets annually.
We have committed to achieving net zero carbon for our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2035, ahead of the government’s 2050 target, alongside a 50% reduction in our wider scope 3 emissions over the same period. These targets sits within our Carbon Neutral Business Operations Plan, which sets out annual and five-yearly milestones, baseline measurement and regular reporting.
Steps already under way or planned include:
- Moving to green energy suppliers across our offices
- Upgrading internal lighting to LED
- Assessing options for fabric upgrades and low-carbon heating at our offices
- Encouraging virtual meetings to reduce business travel emissions
- Staff training and CPD sessions to build awareness of emerging sustainable regulations, products and standards
A dedicated Sustainability and Decarbonisation team
Our in-house Sustainability and Decarbonisation team supports clients on their own net zero journeys. Led by Mitzi Watt, Associate Director, Head of Sustainability, a Passivhaus Consultant and BREEAM Assessor and supported by Leon Kapszewicz, Sustainability and Decarbonisation Consultant, the team works alongside colleagues across all disciplines so that sustainability input is embedded from the earliest project stages.
Why early engagement matters
Whether it’s our own business or a client’s project, the same principle applies: the earlier sustainability enters the conversation, the greater the impact. Early input shapes procurement, specification and design decisions in ways that later changes simply cannot replicate.
If you would like to find out more about how Potter Raper can support your project’s sustainability ambitions, get in touch here.
