Globally the built environment accounts for approximately 40% of total carbon emissions. That means facilities management plays a critical role in creating sustainable spaces and estates that also deliver social value for the surrounding community.
electric vehicles in the Mitie fleet, 66% of total vehicles
100%
renewable energy procured
25%
reduction in gas consumption across Mitie’s offices
128kg
of plants and herbs grown and distributed annually in the Shard’s Farm Stands
Mitie’s Plan Zero initiative commits to net zero operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 2025 and net zero non-operation emissions by 2035.
We will achieve these targets by focusing on:
Eliminating carbon from power and transport through EVs and decarbonised sites
Eradicating non-sustainable waste through removing chemicals from our cleaning operations, reducing use of natural resources and eliminating single-use materials
Enhancing inefficient buildings by optimising sites, occupying offices with high energy ratings and implementing biodiversity initiatives within our estate
Engaging with our supply chain to influence and reduce our Scope 3 emissions.
Plan Zero follows a ‘Do, Lead, Deliver’ approach where we do it for ourselves, lead the industry, then use our in-house expertise to deliver exceptional services for our customers. This way we make sure our own processes are in order, then use our significant influence and reach to impact the wider industry.
A fleet of over 6,000 electric vehicles
Our vehicle fleet accounts for over 98% of our overall Scope 1 and 2 emissions, so we are targeting our fleet’s emissions to reduce environmental impact.
We have installed over 6,000 chargers at our colleagues’ homes, Mitie sites and for our customers. Through our partnership with Mina, we pay directly for charging at our colleagues’ homes.
We want to ensure that the EVs of the future are fit for purpose, and we are now working with vehicle manufacturers to develop 4×4 and large commercial EVs.
Minimising waste through ReWorkwear
We use circular economy principles to cut emissions and embed sustainability in our procurement decisions. Our efforts in reusing Mitie workwear highlight the potential of this approach. By analysing our purchasing patterns, we buy over 300,000 workwear garments every year. However, the natural resources required to produce new clothing textiles are not environmentally friendly: one t-shirt demands 700 gallons of water1, while producing 1kg of fabric releases up to 23kg of greenhouse gases2 into the atmosphere due to processing, manufacturing and distribution.
To tackle the challenge, we have developed a workwear reuse scheme. ReWorkwear ensures that good condition Mitie workwear remains in circulation, minimising waste and reducing our demand for new clothing. Following collection, the workwear is quality checked, laundered and repaired as necessary. Any items not suitable for reuse are recycled. In FY24, our trial collected 700 garments from Mitie contract teams to assess the impact and viability of the project. So far, 47% of these garments can be reused. We aim to expand this scheme each year to eventually cover 100% of our operations, which would save almost 500 tonnes of CO2e annually.
The Farm at The Shard
In 2023, we installed three Farm Stands in Mitie’s HQ office, The Shard in London. Farm Stands are hydroponic (no soil) systems for growing plants and herbs such as kale, basil and oregano. Installed and maintained by Square Mile Farms, every quarter we complete 11 harvests, engage nearly 160 people, and grow over 32kg of produce – that’s around 608 portions. Over this period, The Farm Stands method has saved nearly 500 litres of water compared with standard growing systems. Many colleagues, customers and visitors have benefitted from these stands: “I love this. My kids are getting a big, healthy meal tonight.”
The Mitie estate decarbonisation
Approximately 2% of Mitie’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions (direct, operational) originate from the gas and electricity consumption within our estate. To reduce our carbon emissions, we are degasifying the heating systems at our sites to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, replacing them with low-carbon solutions. We now have 16 decarbonised sites, 13% of our estate, with 5 of these completed during FY24. To achieve this decarbonised status, we have been replacing gas boilers with low-carbon heat pumps and installing LED lighting. During FY25 we are targeting three more sites to decarbonise.
We also focus efforts on ensuring our buildings are running at optimal levels. Using our in-house expertise around energy efficiency, our Energy Managers explore innovative solutions to create smart, connected workspaces. By implementing measures such as setting time schedules and selecting energy saving modes at one of our sites, we will save just under 66 tonnes of CO2e as well as over 323,000 kWh, annually.
Mitie is at the forefront of ESG best practice within the facilities management sector and beyond. This is reflected in the market-leading scores and ratings received from prestigious external organisations, including accreditations from the Sustainable FM Index (SFMI Platinum), CDP (Climate Change = A and Supplier Engagement = A), Sustainalytics (10.5 Low Risk), MSCI ESG Ratings (AA) and Top Employer. Mitie also features in the FTSE4Good Index.
External recognition
Private Sector Commercial Fleet of the Year, 2024 Green Fleet Awards
Organisation of the Year, 2024 Energy Managers Association
Positive Climate Action – Towards Net Zero, IWFM Impact Awards 2024: Awarded to ‘Decarbonising Essex. A step closer to reaching Net Zero Carbon Emissions’, Mitie & ECC
Transport/Fleet Management Project of the Year at the Edie Awards 2024
Company of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards 2024
Team Sustainability Excellence, 2023 Metsä Sustainability Awards: Awarded to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH)
Net Zero Strategy of the Year for Mitie’s Plan Zero at the Energy Management Awards 2023
Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor at the Construction News Specialists Awards 2023 for Custom Solar’s Portsmouth Port project
Best Company for Carbon Transition at ESG Investing’s Corporate ESG Awards 2023
Best use of customer insight, Silver B2B Marketing award 2023 for Mitie Plan Zero – Decarbonisation, Delivered™
Industry Collaboration award with Canary Wharf Group at the 2024 Pro Landscaper Business Awards
Gold standard targets
With the launch of our Plan Zero initiative in 2020, Mitie set their own ambitious net zero targets of Net Zero direct operational emissions by 2025 and Net Zero indirect operational emissions by 2035. In addition to these stretching internal targets, we sought external endorsement aligned to science so that emission reductions are credible. In April 2023, Mitie received validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for near-term, long-term and Net Zero targets, in line with the 1.5 degrees Paris Agreement and based on SBTi methodology. Mitie are one of only 967 companies to receive validation across all three categories, which cover Scope 1, 2 and 3.
The below graph shows Mitie’s actual data against our long-term and Net Zero targets, demonstrating our current performance is tracking positively ahead of our science-based targets (SBTs). To see our full list of SBTs and our progress against each metric, please see page 76 of Mitie’s 2024 ESG report.
SBTi is regarded as the gold standard for net zero emissions targets and receiving SBTi validation marks an important milestone in our decarbonisation journey.
While we have our own ambitious targets of net zero carbon for our operations by 2025, we know that we can make an even bigger impact on the planet by helping our customers decarbonise too.
Jason Roberts, Mitie Group Director, Sustainability & Social Value
Get Decarbonisation, Delivered
The effects of climate change are evident and as organisations gear up for carbon reduction, there is pressing need for progress and delivery by customers, the public, investors and employees alike.
It’s time for a partner who can turn planning into action, and ambition into results. Together, we will make the difference and inspire positive change.
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