Planet Mark is an internationally recognised sustainability certification, awarded annually to businesses that are committed to continuously reducing their carbon emissions.
Certification involves annual verification of carbon footprint data and confirmation that a footprint is reducing year-on-year. SP said that it was important they continually review their progress and set "realistic but ambitious targets".
The firm added: "This year our market-based carbon footprint was 661,614 equivalent tons of CO2 (tCO2e). This is a 6% reduction from the previous year and a total reduction of 46% since our first certification in 2016/17 – this is equivalent to 502,169 return flights from London to New York. We have also reduced our emissions per employee to 223 tCO2e, down by 23 tCO2e from the previous year, a near 10% decrease.
"In line with our public commitment to meeting the trajectory required for a 1.5°C future, as validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative, we will reduce our total carbon emissions by 67% by 2034/35 relative to our 2018/19 baseline. This is consistent with Planet Mark's recommended target of a 5% yearly reduction in emissions, and additionally directly meets half of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)."
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Guy Jefferson, SP Chief Operating Officer, said: "Achieving Planet Mark accreditation for a sixth consecutive year is recognition of the passion and commitment our whole team demonstrates when it comes to decarbonisation and helping to deliver Net Zero.
"Working with Planet Mark helps us to ensure that our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and their guidance has been invaluable as we set ourselves credible Net Zero targets that align with the Science Based Targets Initiative's global Net Zero Standard.
"We will continue to seek innovative new ways to decarbonise both our network infrastructure and the full scope of our business operations, and I am certain that the annual Planet Mark certification process will help us to ensure we stay focused on the right areas."
Steve Malkin, Founder and CEO at Planet Mark, said: "SP Energy Networks has demonstrated incredible commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by retaining Business Certification for six years. It has tracked its business carbon emissions and impressively reduced its direct footprint by almost half.
"Dealing with such vast infrastructure is always going to be a challenge, but SP Energy Networks has embraced the opportunity to deliver real progress on its carbon emissions. It's fantastic to see an organisation go beyond its reduction target and strive for continuous improvement and progress, support regional and national ambitions driving towards Net Zero, and deliver pioneering projects which will play a vital role in the energy system transition."
