Setting the Standard in Sustainability

Version 1 is a verified Carbon Neutral company and has set a target to Net Zero in our operations by 2025

Our Environmental Strategy

At Version 1, we are committed to actions that reduce the impact we have on the environment. We believe that biodiversity loss and the climate emergency are everyone’s responsibility and that we all have a role to play in protecting our environment. To ensure we reduce our impact and act in a considered and united way, we are proud to have created this environmental strategy which sets out our strategic objectives and the actions we will take to achieve them.

The scope of this environmental strategy includes our commitment to reducing carbon emissions, our impact on other environmental factors e.g. waste and water management, and our responsibility to encourage and enable positive behavior change amongst our employees and stakeholders. It sets out our immediate ambitions for 2025, with some more ambitious targets stretching beyond this date.

We recognize the critical importance of environmental sustainability to our business and our people. People are at the heart of our organization, and the positive impact of this strategy will be brought to life by educating and empowering our employees to be our best advocates for sustainability. We strongly believe that when everybody plays their part, significant positive change can and will happen.

Watch the video below to learn more about our strategy.

Our Climate Pledge

Carbon Emissions

Calculating our footprint has been challenging but the process has been enlightening. And ensuring that we continue to manage and reduce the effect of this will become a major focus of our decarbonisation efforts as we strive for Net Zero emissions. To ensure we are tracking this accurately we are calculating and factoring in; working from home, transportation & distribution, business travel, waste & water, digital emissions and data storage.

Below is a review of our emissions comparisons to date, with 2019 as our baseline year.

  • Scope 1 emissions : Office: Heating, Ventilation & AC
  • Scope 2 emissions: Office: Purchased Electricity
  • Scope 3 emissions: Also known as our Value chain emissions

Goals

Net Zero in our operations by 2025 and across our value chain by 2035, or sooner.

Our goals are ambitious because we know that firstly, it’s the right thing to do and secondly, our business model is inherently sustainable so if we push ourselves that bit harder, we can achieve that much more. With the full support of the employees, Board of Management and Shareholders, Version 1 is now a Carbon Neutral company and we aim to be Carbon Net Zero in our operations by 2025

Carbon Neutral Now

We understand that carbon neutrality is not the long-term solution, but we want to make a difference right now while at the same time focusing on taking every action possible to reduce our emissions. Offsetting is not the perfect solution, but it is a mechanism for transferring money from wealthy countries & companies to communities that provide nature based solutions to suck carbon out of the atmosphere and this is one way to tilt the economics in favour of the stewards of the forests and the soil and Version 1 is proud to support that.

 

Pledges & Commitments

Science Based Targets initiative

Version 1 has committed to set near-term company-wide emission reductions in line with climate science with the SBTi

Climate Disclosure Project


Version 1 has been awarded a B score for our 2022 Climate Response

UN Global Impact



Version 1 has aligned its decarbonisation strategy with UN Sustainable Development Goal

Our Pathway to Net Zero by 2025

Emissions Reduction
Achieve net zero emissions in operations by 2025 and across the entire value chain by 2035 or before.
Waste & Conservation
Achieve zero waste by 2030 and engage in positive action for biodiversity.
Education and Mobilisation
Educate employees on environmental sustainability and empower employees to reduce their work-related carbon emissions by 50% by 2025.
Collaboration
Collaborate with key stakeholders on climate action
Innovation
Implement innovative solutions to contribute to positive climate action
Green Procurement
80% of key Suppliers with emission reduction targets in place by 2025

Our Partnerships

We’re serious about sustainability at Version 1 and have engaged a number of environmental partners who are working with us to understand, and reduce our emissions. All helping to embed Sustainability into every aspect of our culture and business.

 

ESG partnerships logo

The Future

We consider our strategy a work in progress, with KPI’s to be developed and targets to be improved upon as our progress and awareness evolves. We believe sharing our plans to improve these areas keep our efforts transparent and help hold ourselves accountable. By coming together to face the biggest challenge of our lifetime, we can make a difference.

With a little input from a lot of people, we can create real & tangible change. We hope that our efforts to reduce emissions and collaborate to be a part of the climate solution will prove that Version 1 is a company that’s not just setting targets but setting the standard; we have the capacity, expertise and passion to truly set the standard in sustainability.

 

Carbon Disclosure Project

Version 1 awarded "B" score by the Carbon Disclosure Project

In 2022 Version 1 responded to Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) for the first time and was awarded a “B” score.

CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investorscompaniescitiesstates and regions to manage their environmental impacts. Over the past 20 years they have created a system that has resulted in unparalleled engagement on environmental issues worldwide.

The CDP’s annual scoring process is widely recognised as the gold standard of corporate environmental transparency. Bold environmental action must begin with an accurate, transparent assessment of environmental impact and progress, which CDP scoring makes possible. It shows us that we are on the road towards operating in line with a 1.5-degree, deforestation-free, and water-secure future.

As a mission-based non-profit that runs the global environmental disclosure system, CDP greatly values the support of Version 1. Urgent system-wide action remains critical to ensuring that we can limit global warming to 1.5°C, avoid the worst effects of climate change and safeguard our planet’s natural resources. Disclosure is the first key step in addressing current and future environmental risks. Version 1 has demonstrated its commitment to transparency around its environmental impacts and strategies for action by disclosing its environmental data through CDP in 2022. Disclosure not only provides the foundation for environmental action, but brings tangible business benefits for shareholders, customers and employees alike.”
- Dexter Galvin, CDP Global Director, Corporations & Supply Chains, 2022