Barnett Waddingham has become net carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions and has pledged to become operationally net zero by 2025, if not sooner.
The consultancy said it had achieved carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions after having made a significant reduction in its footprint by reducing emissions across the business.
The firm also committed to taking the next step and becoming operationally net zero - including all indirect emissions that occur in its value chain, the so-called Scope 3 emissions - by no later than 31 May 2025.
It added that it would only use high-quality, nature-based offsets to achieve neutrality.
Barnett Waddingham said it would also integrate net zero into advisory services by helping clients understand the risks and opportunities coming from climate change.
Senior partner Andrew Vaughan said: "As with everything we do, our promise to do the right thing is at the heart of our net zero carbon pledge and our wider sustainability strategy. For Barnett Waddingham, sustainability is about focussing on meeting the needs of the present, without compromising future generations. We pledge to operate a sustainable business both now and for the long-term.
"Considering the wider impacts we can have on the communities we operate in are priorities for us, so we are building on our culture, and embedding sustainability and ESG across our organisation and ensuring all colleagues, clients and suppliers are actively aware, engaged and supported as we transition to a net-zero world."
Lead sustainability partner Scott Eason added: "We are using our diverse professional skills across the organisation to add value and expertise for clients across all areas of sustainability including investment, risk management and health & wellbeing in the workplace to help them define and achieve their sustainability goals and support climate governance and communications.
"A systemic change like net zero can only be achieved by working together and collaborating with other organisations also looking to go further, faster in building a sustainable future."
Understanding the scopes
Greenhouse gas emissions are categorised into three groups or 'scopes' by the most widely-used international accounting tool, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
- Scope 1: All direct emissions from the activities of an organisation or under their control. This includes fuel combustion on site, from owned vehicles and fugitive emissions. Examples include fleet vehicles and gas emissions from boilers.
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions will be created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation. This includes electricity from energy suppliers to power computers, heating and cooling.
- Scope 3: All other indirect emissions from activities of the organisation that occur from sources that they do not own or control. This is usually the largest share of the carbon footprint, especially for office-based companies, covering emissions associated with business travel, procurement, waste and water.
