Carbon Reduction Plan

Commitment to achieving Net Zero

Dals’s vision is to have a world where everyone is understood. The service we provide makes a substantial difference to the lives of individuals and in addition we aim to make a difference to the environment and wider community to benefit the next generation. To reflect this, we have committed to a Net Zero target of 2030 well in advance of the Government’s 2050 goal.

The Net Zero target is set by the company at a group level and applies to all DA Languages Holdings Ltd operations, incorporating Dals Ltd and Miton Systems Ltd.

We are continually strengthening environmental practices, which address reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal across our entire operation.

We commit to setting and submitting science-based targets (SBTs) for external validation to ensure that our path to reducing GHG emissions falls in line with the Paris Agreement goals. Additionally, we will measure and publish our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, where relevant, as well as implementing further initiatives to reduce our emissions to reach our Net Zero target. 

Our primary focus is to reduce our emissions by 90%, however, we are aware that some carbon emissions will inevitably remain in 2030 due to the scale of the vital work we carry out to deliver language services. Some emissions stem from activities outside of Dals’s control, including client and supply chain activity, and although we are working to remove emissions as widely as possible, some offsetting may be required in order to reach Net Zero by 2030. At this time we will work to absorb or offset all remaining emissions through verified projects that achieve multiple wide-ranging, long-lasting benefits for people and nature. 

 

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. 

Current emissions reporting

As a leading language servicer provider in the UK, we have experienced considerable growth since our emission baseline year of 2022 and anticipate that this growth will continue year on year. The exponential growth has resulted in an increase of our overall emissions in 2023.

N.B Although we have seen an overall increase in our total emissions from 2022 to 2023, the emissions relative to our economic growth have remained the same at 0.02 tCO2e.

We recognise that with an increase in our overall emissions we need to take appropriate action to work towards our Net Zero aspiration of 2030.

Emissions reduction targets

In order to progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets.

  • Next three years to 2025: Target of 15% Carbon reduction to 499.95 tCO2e (relative 0.01787 tCO2e per 1k revenue).
  • Period to 2027: Target of 35% Carbon reduction to 382.32 tCO2e (relative 0.01366 tCO2e per 1k revenue).
  • Period to 2030: Target of 90% Carbon reduction to Net Zero.

 

Carbon reduction projects 

Completed carbon reduction initiatives

The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented since the 2022 baseline. 

Scope 2

Electricity:

  • Continue to support and encourage our flexible working model to reduce energy usage in the office.
  • Energy reduction programme
  • Move to motion sense lighting in offices spaces.
  • Switch off policy, lights, printers, monitors.
  • Environmental guidance and awareness material, annual training to all employees.

Scope 3

Business travel:

  • Move to virtual meetings where possible. 

Employee commuting:

  • Continue to support and encourage our flexible working model to reduce the environmental impact of commuting. Via our flexible working model we saved 11.24 tCO2e in 2023 (January to November).
  • Conducting an annual Employee Commuting survey to assess the environmental impact of commuting and investigate ways of reducing the impact on the environment. This insight can help us make smarter, greener decisions in the future.

Downstream transportations (Supply chain travel):

  • Encourage clients to use remote service solutions for appointments/activities. The increased uptake of our remote interpreting solutions during 2023 resulted in a saving of 6.045 tCO2.

In addition to the above;

  • We are currently ISO14001 accredited and committed to reviewing our policies to understand and improve our Environment.
  • We hold regular meetings of the Social Value/ESG Committee and continually develop our Social Value Strategy and Environmental Policy.

In the future we hope to implement further measures such as:

  • Switching to a 100% renewable electricity tariff resulting in zero emissions for Scope 2.
  • Working collaboratively with our clients to understand where more remote services can be utilised.
  • Improving data and reporting to ensure accuracy of carbon accounting.
  • Undertaking annual Employee Commuting surveys to assess the environmental impact of commuting and investigate ways of reducing the impact on the environment, e.g. introducing a cycle to work scheme.
  • Ensuring all employees are kept informed and motivated to make sustainable decisions to support reduction targets.

 

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 standard[1] and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting[2].

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.

[1] https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting

[3] https://ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard

Signed on behalf of the Supplier:

Matthew Gallacher: CFO