The UN’s SDGs are a globally recognised set of goals covering three focus areas: environmental, social and economic, demonstrating that all three must go hand in hand when progressing towards sustainable development. While our operations have indirect impacts on all the SDGs, we have taken steps to align our strategy to the SDGs where we have the greatest direct impact. We have identified six priority SDGs aligned to our sustainability strategy, where we have a material impact across our business.

While we control our direct emissions from the energy and fuel we buy, we have far less control over the production of materials and the transportation of goods and services. Building long-term partnerships with our supply chain is a key focus of our business, moving from a transactional model to a collaborative, long-term approach focused on shared sustainability goals across procurement, construction, and operations. Working directly with our supply chain, we are helping them understand their emissions, set reduction targets, and implement strategies to decarbonise the goods and services they provide, including sharing knowledge and signposting to relevant accredited training, as well as how to utilise low-carbon construction methods and digital tools to maximise quality.

Innovation is also a key focus of our business. Through our Cultivate Platform, an innovation initiative designed to gather ideas for business improvement and future shaping, we collaborate with our supply chain to develop and bring new solutions to market, driving resource efficiency and broader sustainability benefits that underpin our pathway to net zero.

Our short-term target is to be carbon neutral for our Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030 (where Scope 1 & 2 emissions cannot be reduced, they will be offset responsibly), and our long-term aim is to be net zero for our Scope 3 emissions by 2045.

We’ve been successful in tackling our carbon emissions in recent years, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels in our buildings, and purchasing energy in a cost-effective, compliant, and environmentally responsible manner. We continue to adopt new solutions that reduce carbon output on sites and across our operations.

We have also introduced policies and initiatives to help us reduce our transport costs, mileage and emissions. These include options for home working, implementing a new EV car benefit scheme, installing electric vehicle charging points at offices and sites, and incentivising walking and cycling to work through the Cycle to Work scheme.