Carbon Reduction Plan
MEI has developed a Carbon Reduction Plan to help us understand the impact our operations have upon the environment, to confirm our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, and to ensure we take the necessary steps towards achieving it.
Supplier name: MEI (Mathematics in Education and Industry)
Publication date: 13/01/2025
Commitment to achieving Net Zero
MEI is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline emissions are 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.
Baseline emissions are the reference point against which emissions reduction can be measured.
Baseline Year: Financial Year 2019/20
Additional Details relating to the Baseline Emissions calculations.
This is our first year of reporting emissions and reductions; please refer to the Current Emissions
Reporting below for details.
| EMISSIONS | TOTAL (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | 7 |
| Scope 3 | (Include Sources) 218: 168 tonnes from Business Travel (Category 6), 61 tonnes from Commuting & Working From Home (Category 7), 6 tonnes from Downstream Transport (Category 9) |
| Total Emissions | 225 |
Financial Year 2021/22
| EMISSIONS | TOTAL (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | 3 |
| Scope 3 (Include Sources) | 65.2: 65.2 tonnes from Business Travel (Category 6), 46.8 tonnes from Commuting & Working From Home (Category 7), 1 tonnes from Downstream Transport (Category 9) |
| Total Emissions | 116 |
Financial Year 2022/23
| EMISSIONS | TOTAL (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | 3.21 |
| Scope 3 (Include Sources) | 118.71: 56.48 tonnes from Business Travel (Category 6), 62.04 tonnes from Commuting & Working from Home (Category 7), 0.19 tonnes from Downstream Transport (Category 9) |
| Total Emissions | 121.92 |
Financial Year 2023/24
| EMISSIONS | TOTAL (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | 3.72 |
| Scope 3 (Include Sources) | 270.62: 196.9 tonnes from Business Travel (Category 6), 73.47 tonnes from Commuting & Working from Home (Category 7), 0.25 tonnes from Downstream Transport (Category 9) |
| Total Emissions | 274.34 |
Financial Year 2024/25
| EMISSIONS | TOTAL (tCO2e) |
|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 0 |
| Scope 2 | 0: MEI uses a Green Energy Supplier |
| Scope 3 (Include Sources) | 76 tonnes: 43 tonnes from Business Travel (Category 6) 22.8 tonnes from Commuting & Working from Home (Category 7) Minimal emissions from Downstream Transport (Category 9) |
| Total Emissions | 76 tonnes |
Emissions reduction targets
Over the 4 years of these reports, we have made some substantial changes to operations, including a >50% increase in headcount (compared to 2019) and changes in travel due to Covid. This change has had a direct effect on the largest component of our carbon footprint, Business Travel, with an increase of 22.3% from 161(tCO2e) in 2019 to 196.9 (tCO2e) in 2024. This change can be seen in the following graph.
Whilst our business travel footprint has increased in line with business growth, by introducing other initiatives which are listed below, we’ve been able to reduce our emissions on a per-person basis across the 4 years. This reduction is shown in the graph below:
- Upgraded the office lights to LEDs throughout.
- Increased the use of sustainable materials in the office and program resources.
- Reduced paper usage in the office by encouraging the use of digital communications, document storage and sharing.
- Switched the office to a lower-carbon energy supplier.
- Reducing commuting by introducing a hybrid working approach where office staff now work from home three days a week.
- Encouraged more active travel through the introduction of the Cycle to Work scheme.
Whilst this is a positive trend, we recognise this doesn’t diminish our need to pursue Net Zero. To progress in achieving this, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets. We project that carbon emissions will decrease over the next two years to 208 tCO2e by 2026. This is a reduction of 24%. Progress against these targets can be seen in the graph below:
Carbon Reduction Projects
Carbon Reduction Initiatives:
We are implementing further measures to reduce our emissions:
- Improving the accuracy of our data
- Keeping a record of staff car registration data (to get more accurate information about the car/fuel type/emissions).
- Surveying event attendees to understand how far they have travelled to attend an event and by what modes to help determine the real impact of these.
- Issuing a survey on staff heating systems to identify those who are heating their homes with something other than mains gas, thereby possibly changing their emissions.
- Introduce a transport policy and communications supporting lower-carbon travel choices to help shift colleagues to better choices when travelling, whether changing to a lower-carbon mode, driving more conscientiously, or using sustainable hotels. The policy will also include details of a new electric charging point that is available near the office for staff with electric cars. This addition provides greater flexibility for those using environmentally friendly transport options.
As part of our commitment to sustainability and accessibility, we are also reviewing the venues we book for in-person events to ensure they align with our organisational values and are introducing a central record of ‘preferred’ venues. This review outlines key details about each venue’s location, including whether it is fully accessible via public transport to minimise car usage.
Additionally, we will also evaluate the venues for their adoption of carbon-friendly practices and products, such as waste recycling initiatives and sustainable stationery and catering options (e.g. ethically sourced products, including fair trade, organic, or sustainably sourced items such as coffee, and compostable or reusable packaging, avoiding single-use plastics). This approach supports our goal of reducing the environmental impact of our events while promoting equitable access for attendees.
This Carbon Reduction Plan provides a clear framework for reducing MEI’s emissions across all major sources. By focusing on business travel, commuting, and operational efficiencies, MEI is positioned to achieve its Net Zero target by 2050 while supporting interim reductions along the way.
Declaration and Sign Off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standards 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 standard1 and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting2. 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) Standard3. This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the Board of Trustees.
Signed on behalf of the Supplier:
Date: 14/11/2024
1https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard
2https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting