Delta-Simons Carbon Footprint Results 2019

‘Excellence in our environment’ is what we strive for.

This relates to our professional services as well as looking after our planet. As environmental consultants, we believe we should set an example for environmental stewardship. That is why, every year, we calculate our carbon footprint and take action to reduce it. View our Carbon Footprint Results 2018 here. 

We calculate Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions, accounting for our direct (fuel consumed in our offices and vehicle fleet) and indirect emissions (from our supply chain and purchases goods and services). Our footprint boundaries cover company vehicles, personal cars, hire cars, public transport, drilling rigs and site materials, electricity and gas bills, and office waste.

Our mentality is: if we can measure it, we will measure it. And as our data management gets better every year, we continue to expand the scope to have positive impacts in more and more areas.

Based on our 2014 baseline, when we moved to our current head office, we have reduced our carbon footprint significantly. If we had carried on at our 2014 levels (based on emissions per employee) our emissions would be approximately 700 tonnes. However, by making our business more efficient, our emissions are less than half that figure.

Electricity Consumption

In the past year, Delta-Simons has moved into a new office in Bristol, as well as relocating the Durham office to a larger space in Newcastle. However, through our commitment to operating our premises in the most efficient way we can - total electricity consumption fell by 6% in 2019.

For all offices where we are responsible for the electricity bills, we have now moved to 100% renewable energy tariffs as a significant step towards de-carbonising our operations.

Transport & Travel

We have continued to invest in new vehicles which balance the requirements of our work with fuel-efficiency and new clean energy sources.

In 2019, we began our journey to ‘green’ our company vehicle fleet. As we continue to grow, we aim to add more electric and hybrid vehicles to the fleet, powered by clean energy from renewable energy tariffs, in order to further reduce our contribution to air pollution and climate change.

Whilst as environmental consultants, it is evitable that we need to travel to visits our clients’ and conduct site investigations and surveys, we are embracing opportunities for remote and flexible working. We continue to invest in technology to allow our employees to work, collaborate and support our clients in effective ways – whilst in the office, at home or on the move.

Overall, our emissions per mile across all forms of transport has reduced for five years in a row as a result of a more efficient fleet, more local offices, better infrastructure and more effective planning.

Total Emissions

Our carbon footprint for the 2019 calendar year was 346.40 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). This remained at approximately the same level as the previous year.

As a fast-growing business employee more people and supporting more clients – we assess our carbon emissions against two relative impacts – per employee and per £100,000 revenue.

During 2019 our employee headcount rose from 130 in January 2019 to 141 in January 2020 – an increase of 8%. Our annual turnover also increased by 28%.

Whilst we achieved significant business growth throughout 2019, we are proud to say that total emissions per employee and total emissions per £100,000 revenue continue to decrease, year on year, for the fifth successive year.

There are always challenges ahead, but by focusing on making our business more efficient and more successful will reduce its environmental impact. We understand that business and the environment are intrinsically linked and will continue to invest in improving our service to clients and the natural environment we share.