Corporate Social Responsibility Hub
Our Transformation
Being a supplier of low carbon heating technologies, carbon reduction and sustainability is a part of who we are. We strive to manage business operations in an environmentally responsible manner, complying with relevant environmental legislation and regulations. Through our Quality Environmental Policy ISO14001, we are committed to continuous improvement with products and services, as well as recycling and reducing pollution.
Grant Project Zero
The United Kingdom was the first major economy to set a legally binding target of Net Zero carbon emissions by a target date of 2050. Although a daunting challenge, the date is set, and we all must work collectively to achieve this goal.
Grant Project Zero is Grant UK’s long-term company-wide carbon reduction programme. This transformation initiative helps us focus on our commitment to Net Zero to ensure we do our bit as a Company towards achieving our nation's Net Zero Carbon target.
It considers all business processes from facilities, vehicles and energy usage to waste, business travel and our supply chain.
Our Carbon Footprint
For Grant Project Zero we document the carbon our business operations generate each year. In 2021, we appointed external carbon consultants Carbon Lens to calculate our carbon intensity and support us with managing our resource consumption so that we can be recognised as a carbon neutral business and aim towards Net Zero.
Carbon Lens review the following data:
- Energy used at our HQ in Wiltshire.
- Significant purchases.
- Business Travel.
- Shipping.
- Waste data.
The report covered Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Scopes are a way of classifying different emissions a business generates. Scope 1 covers the emissions that our business directly makes e.g. running company vehicles. Scope 2 covers the indirect emissions e.g. where/how our electricity is being generated. Scope 3 is the largest of all and accounts for all emissions our business is indirectly responsible for throughout our supply chain e.g. where and who we purchase our products from.
This data is then used to calculate our carbon footprint. The carbon emissions for each category of consumption are calculated using the methodology defined in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Carbon Conversion Factors published annually by DEFRA on behalf of the UK Government.
Our carbon footprint for scopes 1, 2 and 3 in 2022 was calculated as: 8,315 Tonnes CO2e
Carbon Savings
We are already making positive steps forward to achieve more sustainable business operations. Today, Grant UK employees are encouraged to reduce waste and recycle whenever possible with the placement of recycling facilities throughout our premises. Since introducing these measures, we have significantly improved waste collections and recycling volumes. In less than a year, cardboard waste reduced by 55%, plastic waste reduced by 52% and the amount of general waste produced onsite also greatly reduced with over a tonne being handled as mixed recyclables. Following the introduction of a new printing system at our HQ offices in October 2022, we have also reduced our print waste by 25% in the first six months.
Low-energy LED lights are used throughout the offices and Training Academy and the vehicles in the Company's fleet are now moving to either fully electric or hybrid models as appropriate.
Our Premises
In addition to our onsite recycling and waste reduction initiatives, sustainability is also a central feature of our premises. Our Company HQ in Swindon, Wiltshire, has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible from the choice of materials used within the office spaces and Training Academy through to the renewable heating system fulfilling the site's heating and hot water requirements.
Alongside the biomass heating system which provides heating and hot water, 768 solar panels and storage batteries have been installed as part of the 303kWp Solar PV system which has been fitted onto the roof of both of our units. This system is already fulfilling over 83% of the electricity demand for the main office unit and 91% of the electricity demand for our Training Academy. Generating 50MwH of electricity in June 2023, this system is helping Grant UK to reduce its reliance on the grid and it is hoped that in the future, it will fulfil all our electricity demand as well as feeding renewable electricity into the grid. Furthermore, any electricity we use from the grid is also renewable so any energy used on site is 100% renewable (view our Renewable Energy Certificate).
Please click here to read more about our HQ's facilities and features.
Our Reduction Roadmap
With an established carbon baseline, our Leadership Team are committed to challenging and continually reducing the use of carbon over the coming years.
Our long-term commitment is split into three phases:
Offset
- We contribute to certified carbon offset schemes that are aligned with our business purpose.
Neutrality
- We further reduce carbon through implementation of new short medium and longterm initiatives and amendments to business processes. We participate in the UNFCCC Climate Neutral Now programme and pledge carbon neutrality.
Net Zero
- This is our long term goal which will be hard to achieve while fossil fuels are still a predominant source of heating in GB.
- We will work with our suppliers to fully review our supply chain and business processes with the aim of removing carbon.
Click here to see what our carbon reduction journey looks like for 2023.
Carbon Neutrality
We like to lead by example so becoming a carbon neutral business within an industry that is striving to decarbonise was important to us. Grant UK has been recognised as carbon neutral for our business operations (scopes 1 & 2) since 2021. Our commitment is annually assessed by the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative.
There are three stages to us achieving carbon neutrality each year:
- Measure the Company's carbon footprint – This includes our carbon footprint for Scopes 1 & 2. The supply chain emissions in Scope 3 are not included as we only have an indirect influence over these.
- Reduce the Company's emissions wherever possible – One of our business goals is to ‘be sustainable’. The implementation of our companywide sustainability programme Grant Project Zero and roadmap detailing key carbon reduction initiatives, demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon impact. To date we have implemented many initiatives dedicated to carbon reduction and will continue to introduce further carbon saving measures to reduce our carbon footprint further.
- Offset what cannot be reduced by supporting UN certified projects - We achieve further carbon reduction for any carbon that we are unable to eradicate through approved UN projects. We are supporting the Nadarivatu Hydropower Project to offset the carbon emissions we generate in line with PAS 20602 specifications.
Offsetting Our Carbon
The Nadarivatu Hydropower Project (NHP) is an accredited renewable energy initiative that Grant UK is supporting to offset carbon emissions (view our certificate here). We selected this project in Fiji for its environmental and social impact, and its key focus on reducing the use of fossil fuel consumption in energy production. This emphasis on renewable energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and the fact Fiji is an off-grid island, aligns nicely with our business being a specialist in off-grid sustainable heating.
NHP involves the construction of a hydroelectric power plant on the upper part of the Sigatoka River. The project generates green power through zero‐emission hydro technology and therefore reduce carbon emissions. Socially it provides jobs to local communities during and following construction and creates long‐term income to the surrounding villages in an area where permanent and reliable employment is scarce. The project additionally provides reliable electricity supply and good upkeep and maintenance of roads in and out of the Nadrau plateau. Regarding the local economy, the road assists in better access to markets for the agricultural produce from these villages. Finally, it satisfies the growing energy demand for the national economy without increasing dependency on fossil fuels.
Climate Neutral Now Initiative
Grant UK is participating in the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative. The Initiative encourages companies to recognise their carbon impact right now and act to achieve a climate neutral world by 2050. It is a support tool that is used to promote voluntary action on climate change, and to provide recognition. To be part of the initiative we signed a Climate Neutral Now Pledge, follow three steps - Measure, Reduce and Contribute, and annually report on our carbon saving actions and achievements.
See our 2022 achievement report here
