At Portland Training, we believe that it is the responsibility of all to reduce the effects of human activity on climate change and ensure that we are committed to reducing carbon emissions. This is why, as a company, we are taking steps to reduce our own carbon emissions, constantly striving towards the goal of becoming net zero.
This year, we will continue our efforts to ensure that environmental commitments become an integral part of our work whilst ensuring we always operate in a responsible manner regarding our emissions through heating, power, travel and waste. One way in which we hope to accelerate and reinforce our net-zero pledge is through the continuous efforts of our Net-Zero Champions.
Net Zero Champions
Our Net-Zero champions have already been hard at work working alongside our senior management team to champion the environmental responsibilities of the company. The Net-Zero champions focus on ways we can improve our output to becoming more environmentally responsible.
Here are some of the ways our champions are helping to make a difference:
- Our company car fleet is now fully electric, with options in place for staff to obtain electric vehicles, which significantly reduces our travel emissions as a company.
- Responsible waste management and recycling is enforced and maintained in the office and learning environments.
- Drastic reduction on printing – Prioritising E-learning wherever possible, significantly reducing the need to print learning materials.
- Working alongside SMT to continuously improve how we operate in regards to becoming net-zero.
Our Carbon Reduction Initiatives
We are firmly committed to our goal of becoming net-zero and Portland Training, ensuring all possible and reasonable action is taken to hasten this. Below are our carbon reduction initiatives.
If you’d like to learn more, please see our Carbon Reduction Positioning Statement
Below are our carbon reduction initiatives, which are informed by the Accelerated Green Pathway. Our primary objective is to achieve a 15% reduction in our carbon footprint by the conclusion of the year 2023.
- To ensure we contribute to achieving the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommended goal of limiting global warming to 1.5%, we will set science-based targets verified and published by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- We will aim to procure certified 100% renewable electricity contracts for all our owned sites.
- We have run a communications campaign to educate and drive awareness around
- Events such as World Environment Day.
- We will provide e-learning to all of our colleagues and share our definition of Net Zero through firm wide meetings.
- We have built awareness amongst our workforce of the impact of their decisions on our journey to net zero by holding company wide engagement sessions.
- Begun consultation with stakeholders to establish a target date before which we
- We will aim to reach Net Zero in line with the SBTi corporate net zero standard.
- We have implemented a Net Zero Champion Team and are currently finalising our materiality assessment with the Strategic Leadership Team.
- Selecting the most appropriate form of travel taking into account carbon emissions as well as other business factors; and only travel when necessary.
- Use, wherever possible electric cars for our company cars.
- Ensuring that our buildings are operated in such a manner so to optimise use and reduce emissions through control of heat and power.
- Reducing waste through control of packaging for bought in goods.
- Expanding the availability and use of new technologies to allow for changes in behaviour particularly around digitalising our internal systems and reducing the need for printing.
- Including in supplier selection and review criteria minimum environmental standards expected of current and future suppliers for bought in goods and services.
- Providing quarterly reports showing carbon emissions generated from electricity, gas and travel.
