Sustainability and Social Value Strategy Update

We’re thrilled to share some of the progress from our Sustainability and Social Value Strategy.

Through a robust three-step measuring, engaging, and communicating process, we are aligning our efforts with our social, economic, and environmental commitments to the communities we proudly support.

Here’s a snapshot of our journey so far:

• Waste and Recycling: Our efforts have successfully diverted 99% of our waste from landfills in the UK through elimination, reduction, reuse, and recycling.
• Energy and Carbon Management: We’re on a mission for carbon-neutral operations, championing renewable energy and minimising water and waste to enhance our environmental performance.
• Travel and Transport: With initiatives like our Green Travel benefits and a vision for a fully electric fleet by 2030, we’re making sustainable travel our focus.  We have also recently partnered with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) to create an ‘Understanding Electric Vehicles’ training course to support our colleagues as we transition to a fully electric fleet. Sustainable travel is a crucial part of our sustainability Net Zero strategy, fully supported by IAM.
• Sustainable Procurement: We work with our goods and services providers to ensure we are utilising sustainable solutions.

Our journey includes major milestones like exiting premises based on their carbon emissions, decarbonising our Head Office, transitioning to renewable energy, switching to electric vehicles and making significant reductions in water, waste, gas, paper and electricity, evidenced through our certification to Planet Mark and ISO 14001 and ISO 50001.

Partnership with Planet Mark

Since 2020, we’ve partnered with Planet Mark, a leading Sustainability Consultancy, to craft roadmaps to hit Net Zero for our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Each year, we’ve committed ourselves to hit our reduction targets and decarbonise our operations.

Our 2023/24 certification marked a monumental 22% absolute carbon reduction and a 52% reduction per turnover. In 2022/23, despite an increase in travel post-COVID, we still managed to cut down our carbon footprint by 7.4% from the previous year, exceeding our targets.

For three years running, we’ve been awarded Planet Mark Business Certification, a testament to our dedication to sustainability and our efforts in making impactful, commercial, and sustainable changes. This certification isn’t just a symbol; it’s a commitment to ongoing improvement, engaging our team and stakeholders, and working together to make a difference.

All Vertas Group subsidiaries proudly hold the Carbon Charter Silver Level alongside our Planet Mark Certification. Our commitment to the environment is further strengthened with our ISO certifications in Environmental and Energy Management, ensuring we operate at the highest sustainability standards.