Introduction
At Wellspring, we are fully committed to achieving net zero across all areas of our business. We recognise the urgent need to address climate change and take responsibility for our environmental impact. With this commitment, we aim to minimise our carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future. To achieve net zero, we will adopt an approach that encompasses key strategies across our services. By promoting awareness and encouraging sustainable practices, we will create a culture of environmental responsibility within our health and social care businesses.
Through these concerted efforts, we will strive to achieve net zero and be a leader in the transition to a greener, more sustainable health and social care services. We will regularly review and improve our practices to ensure ongoing progress towards our net zero goals.
This plan uses the GOV.UK PPN 06/21 as its baseline model to ensure it remains in line with tender expectations with applicable Government bodies. Wellspring is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2035.
Statement
- We will assess and monitor our current emissions, setting clear reduction targets to measure our progress
- We will invest in energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy sources, and sustainable infrastructure to minimize our operational carbon emissions
- We will prioritise sustainable procurement practices, ensuring that our supply chain aligns with our commitment to net zero
- We will work closely with our suppliers to encourage responsible sourcing and reduce the environmental impact of our products and services
- We will engage and educate our employees, clients, and stakeholders about the importance of sustainability.
As part of our overall Carbon Reduction Plan, we sought staff involvement in a number of initial projects that can support us with both getting our message across, but also give us a head start on seeing the benefits of such measures in a short space of time.
Baseline Emissions Footprint
Baseline Year: 2024
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 Emissions Calculations
As a provider of Health and Social Care, we are committed to environmental sustainability and actively strive to minimize our carbon footprint. As part of our submission and Carbon Reduction Plan we aim to provide additional details relating to baseline emissions calculations, as outlined in GOV.UK PPN 06/21.
In line with the government’s objective to transition to a low-carbon economy, we recognise the significance of accurately assessing and managing our environmental impact. We understand that baseline emissions calculations are a crucial step towards achieving this goal.
To comply with the requirements of GOV.UK PPN 06/21, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment of our operations, including energy consumption, transportation, waste management, and other relevant areas. This assessment will be carried out in accordance with recognised industry standards and best practices.
Our aim is to establish a reliable baseline for emissions calculations, which will enable us to track our progress and implement targeted strategies to reduce our carbon emissions effectively. We are committed to aligning our practices with the government’s environmental objectives and contributing to a sustainable future.
Our initial plan aims to focus on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and we expect to use 2024-25 as our initial baseline report, assuming no further significant change to our operations. By the end of December 2025, we will be able to update this plan to include applicable Scope 3 categories including:
- Category 4 Upstream transportation and distribution
- Category 5 Waste generated in operations
- Category 6 Business travel
- Category 7 Employee commuting
- Category 9 Downstream transportation and distribution
Emissions Reduction Targets
As a provider we have not had any previous emissions reduction targets or commitments.
As a result, as part of our commitment to achieving Net Zero, we aim to aspire to achieve the following carbon reduction target:
We aim to reduce our overall footprint and as a result our carbon emissions will reduce substantially over the next five years to 50,000 tCO2e by 2028/29.
This (if achieved as planned) will deliver a substantial reduction of 38 % with the aim to reach net zero carbon by 2035. In addition to the changes, we aim to deliver in our work environments, practices, and workforce.
We also aim to compensate for all our generated emissions, including those from essential and unavoidable travel, by investing in carbon-reduction projects that are certified to international standards.
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 1 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 3.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).
