Climate change is no longer a looming threat; rising global temperatures, melting glaciers and extreme weather events point to a harsh reality that demands immediate action. The clock is ticking for our planet and the quality-of-life that future generations will enjoy. Willmott Dixon takes a proactive approach to reducing carbon emissions at source and supporting our supply chain. Carbon neutral for over a decade now, we prioritise emissions reduction over carbon offsetting as part of our sustainable and long-term approach to climate change.
Now or Never commits us to achieving zero carbon in our own operations by 2030. Below we provide an update on our progress towards our targets. To find out more about our declarations under the Government's Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) regulations and our full carbon footprint data, click here.
Our zero carbon ambition
In 2020, we set a science-based target, aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Our Now or Never ambition is to become a zero-carbon company, without any offsetting, by 2030. To do this we will reduce our own operational emissions to zero so that we will no longer need to offset our carbon footprint.
By the end of 2022, we had reduced absolute carbon emissions by 48% since our baseline year of 2018 and by 23% since 2021. This performance brings us close to our ambitious planned trajectory for carbon reduction which targets significant reductions in the early years of the strategy.
We also aim to continually reduce the amount of energy we use year-on-year and to find new ways of becoming more energy efficient. As a result, in 2022 we’ve seen a 4% reduction in Willmott Dixon operational energy use since 2021.
Steps to reduce emissions
In 2022, Willmott Dixon took significant steps to reduce carbon emissions by mandating the use of hybrid generators, which reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise pollution on site, and by encouraging use of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuels, which emit ten times less carbon than mineral diesel, on all our sites. For instance, the switch to a hybrid generator on site at our Wixams Academy project, near Bedford, saw diesel power only used for 6.5 hours a day with the remaining power needed overnight provided by the battery. Fuel savings amounted to 3,500 litres of diesel per month and reduced site emissions by 8,900kgCO2e.
In addition, pilot studies were undertaken with the aim of achieving fossil fuel free sites. Detailed site energy set-up guidance for all our site cabins was implemented alongside increased monitoring of cabin energy use including trialling of remote monitoring solutions.
Between the launch of our innovative approach to agile working, homeworking and sustainable transport in 2021 until end of December 2022 we’ve seen 492 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles ordered through our salary sacrifice car scheme (which allows our people to access electric and plug-in hybrid lease cars). The scheme is currently capped at 120gCO2/km so only efficient cars are included and it highly incentivises electric vehicles. In 2022, we won the ‘Fleet Benefits Scheme of the Year’ award for our approach to sustainable transport (below).
To support our people to make the switch, all offices have charge points, where feasible, and we ensure that charge points are available on our sites or at a convenient location nearby. We’ve also launched tools to help our construction projects to plan resources to assist with mileage reduction. This shift to agile working, including financial support for homeworking, has reduced mileage from business travel and commute by 37% since 2018.
In 2022, we achieved ‘Champion level’ compliance with the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment and we remained one of the only construction contractors to hold The Carbon Trust Standard.
Where possible, we procure 100% natural renewable electricity contracts for our sites and offices, with our energy bills going towards supporting renewable power. Our broker, Planet First, which is also a social enterprise, helps us procure these supplies. In 2022, we directed sites to get fixed renewable energy tariff contracts, as opposed to the default out-of-contract tariffs, which use a mix of fuels and significantly increase carbon emissions. We estimate that site use of renewable tariffs saved an approximate 2.6m kgCO2e over the course of 2022.
Since 2020, we have worked towards greener electricity by partnering with suppliers who could demonstrate additionality in their supply. Additionality refers to companies that financially support new sources of renewable generation rather than buying what is available or planned from the energy markets. However, due to the volatility of the energy market in 2022, securing supply contracts from these companies has become increasingly challenging.
The Climate Group
Willmott Dixon is the first contractor to sign up to all three of The Climate Group’s initiatives: for renewable energy (RE100), electric vehicles (EV100) and energy provision (EP100). These initiatives are a public commitment to achieving a 100% electric vehicle fleet and procuring 100% renewable electricity by 2030.
Carbon Trust Standard
During 2022, we continued to hold certification to The Carbon Trust Standard. Willmott Dixon has a best-in-sector score, maintaining our position as one of the only construction contractors to hold the standard. Companies which achieve the Standard must achieve an overall score of at least 60% and a repeat of the assessment takes place every two years.
Bureau Veritas UK
We commission Bureau Veritas UK to verify some of our key sustainability metrics. Read our Bureau Veritas statement on our 2022 performance here.
Carbon neutral since 2012
Until we have reduced our emissions to zero, we continue to offset our unavoidable emissions and have now been carbon neutral for our own operations since 2012. To offset our 2021 emissions, we invested in the Northern Uganda Safe Water Project and the Sumatra Merang Peatland Project. We self-certify our carbon neutrality in accordance with PAS 2060.