Legal
Carbon Reduction Plan
Commitment to achieving net zero
GSA is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2035. GSA is committed to its Supply Chain/Operations reaching net-zero by 2040.
Baseline emissions footprint
Baseline emissions are typically a record of the greenhouse gases that have been produced in the past and were produced prior to the introduction of any strategies to reduce emissions. GSA has been accredited to ISO 14001 since July 2014 and has always sought to minimise our impact upon the environment. Therefore, a true baseline prior to such activity is not achievable. We have elected to compare performance therefore against 01/01/2023 and 31/12/2023 which we will reference as our baseline year. For us it is about reaching net-zero as soon as able in a manner that is sustainable to our being as a commercial entity, honest and sustainable for our environment’s future.
Baseline year: 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
Additional details relating to the baseline emissions calculations: no previous reporting available.
| Emissions | Share of scope | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 4.12 | |
| Scope 2 (market-based): electricity | 47.7% | 35.6 |
| Scope 2 (market-based): heat | 52.3% | 39 |
| Scope 3: business travel | 8% | 5.63 |
| Scope 3: transportation and distribution (upstream) | 0 | |
| Scope 3: purchased goods and services | 91.6% | 64.7 |
| Scope 3: capital goods | 0.4% | 0.302 |
| Total emissions | 149 |
This equates to a carbon intensity per employee of 1.98 tCO2e based upon 75 employees during the measurement period (using market-based emissions).
Current emissions reporting
Reporting year: 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
| Emissions | Share of scope | Total (tCO2e) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 100.0% | 11.6 |
| Scope 2 (market-based): electricity | 47.8% | 35.8 |
| Scope 2 (market-based): heat | 52.2% | 39.1 |
| Scope 3: business travel | 12.0% | 12.7 |
| Scope 3: transportation and distribution (upstream) | 0.0% | 0.0 |
| Scope 3: purchased goods and services | 87.0% | 91.8 |
| Scope 3: capital goods | 1.0% | 1.08 |
| Total emissions | 192 |
This equates to a carbon intensity per employee of 2.56 tCO2e based upon 75 employees during the measurement period (using market-based emissions).
Next emissions reporting: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | tbd | |
| Scope 2 (market-based): electricity and heat | tbd | |
| Scope 3: business travel, transportation and distribution (upstream), employee commuting and home working, purchased goods and services, capital goods | tbd | |
| Total emissions | tbd |
Carbon reduction projects
Eliminate
We have:
- Moved to a Cloud Offer reducing travel to sites
- Moved to technology enabled meetings wherever possible (video conferencing)
- Adopted electronic system manuals and training resources
Reduce
We have:
- Recycling points within the offices
- Recycled technology assets to charities and social objectives
- Introduced movement sensors on lighting
- Introduced movement and timing switches on air conditioners
- Partially switched to LED lighting and intend to further extend
- Encouraged full switch off of monitors and TVs when not in use
- Introduction of flexible working schemes that reduce commuter mileage
- Trained staff as part of our ISO 14001 accreditation
We continue to review car share schemes, electric vehicle schemes and solar panels.
We will:
- Maintain our ISO 14001 accreditation and staff training
- Prioritise purchasing from local suppliers to limit delivery mileage
- Continue to promote staff behaviour change initiatives
- Consider the energy efficiency of equipment on new purchases
Substitute
We have:
- Moved to a REGO scheme renewable energy contract
- Reduced fossil fuel vehicle fleet
We will:
- Look to suppliers who align with our net-zero carbon targets and encourage existing partners to adopt schemes where they are not already
- Continue to increase the proportion of the fleet that is electric or plug-in hybrid
Compensate
We have:
- Planted over 6,000 trees
- Planted over 100 metres of hedgerow
We will:
- Plant more trees
- Research carbon capture schemes
- Research employee electric car schemes
- Consider carbon offset
- Consider point of sale offset on necessary air travel
Comment
A significant element of our carbon is attributed to our cloud computing service provider AWS. AWS are making progress towards their own net-zero pledge targeting 2040. Whilst we have seen some increase in this reporting period we would attribute this to the growth in cloud computing and a small uptick in consumption due to post-COVID resumption in travel, including necessary international travel to customers (WHO declared COVID over in May 2023). We have also changed the calculation tools we use.
Declaration and sign off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.
Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body). Signed on behalf of the supplier: Dave Blackburn, Commercial Director. Date: 14/04/2026.