But our journey is ongoing, and as we consider next steps we are keen to share the things we’ve learnt with other organisations.
Operationally, we have been working towards carbon neutrality for around five years and have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 20% since 2015.
Measurement has been an essential part of our move to carbon neutrality, as it provided a benchmark, showed us where the bulk of our emissions came from and where the most effective action could be taken.
For example, we’ve removed gas-based kitchens in our headquarters and improved lighting and energy efficient equipment, our data centre will move to the cloud, and we’re identifying different ways to provide heating and hot water.
The project in Cambodia helps provide clean drinking water, with a treatment scheme that means locals will no longer need to cut down trees and light carbon emitting fires to boil contaminated water.
However, the latest measurement we carried out found that in 2020/21 71% of our greenhouse gas emissions came from our business premises, 24% came from business trips and travel, and 5% came from employee commuting.
We’ve increased recycling and reduced the amount of waste we send to landfill, and introduced LED lighting in our London headquarters which resulted in a 60% reduction in power consumption.
ICAEW became carbon neutral in autumn 2020, the first major professional body in the world to do so, but we will continue to take steps to reduce our emissions wherever we can.
By showing leadership in this area, and sharing our own carbon neutral journey, we hope to inspire other organisations to do the same.