Publication date: 10th May 2023

Commitment to achieving Net Zero

The most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), AR6, described the severe consequences of a failure to prevent global temperature rise below 1.5℃. The recently concluded COP26 made clear that to limit global warming at 1.5℃, carbon emissions need to halve by 2030 and drop to net zero by the middle of the century for the best chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

As a responsible business Ultima Business Solutions Ltd is committed to become net-zero by 2035. This report sets out a net-zero roadmap, detailing the strategies we have put in place to achieve this goal.

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.

Additional Details relating to the Baseline Emissions calculations.

Baseline year emissions cover the consumption and emissions arising for Ultima and related business activities. Emissions data have not been officially published prior to 2019, therefore we have selected Ultima’s Financial Year 2019/20 as the baseline in line with Streamline Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR).

The calculations have been approved by a PAS51215-compliant body via our third-party SERC provider.

Baseline year emissions: April 2019 to March 2020
EMISSIONS TOTAL (tCO2e)
Scope 1: 6.39
Scope 2: 280.08
Scope 3: 191.21
TOTAL EMISSIONS: 477.68
Current Emissions Reporting
Reporting Year: 01 Jan 2022 to 31 Dec 2022 prepared in accordance with the GHG standard –
Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3)

EMISSIONS TOTAL (tCO2e)

Scope 1: 5
Scope 2: 116.3
Scope 3: 88.3

TOTAL EMISSIONS: 209.60

Methodology used in the calculation of disclosures

ESOS methodology (as specified in Complying with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme version 6, published by the Environment Agency, 21.01.21) used in conjunction with Government GHG reporting conversion factors.

For carbon only related matters, the SECR methodology as specified in “Environmental reporting guidelines: including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting and greenhouse gas reporting” was used in conjunction with Government GHG reporting conversion factors.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file
/850130/Env-reporting-guidance_inc_SECR_31March.pdf

Our Corporate Carbon Footprint:
• Ultima has halved the Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2019—this is from activities such as heating and powering offices by renewable energy, energy monitoring due to submetering, and efficiency in transferring the majority of our on-Premise services to Cloud platforms.
• Ultima is committed to a paperless office and in our warehouse all packaging is recycled or reused.
• Since 2019 we have halved our employee commuting impact.
• Ultima’s LABS software services are estimated to reduce our customers’ carbon impacts by over 50%.

Ultima’s emissions reduction targets
We pledge by 2030:
• To further reduce our scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions and to be aligned with net-zero ambitions.
• 70% of the Ultima Services to our customers will reduce their carbon impact in our scope 3 value chain.
• We will support our customers to reduce the impact of emissions due to unavoidable business travel through a verified Carbon Offset provider.
• We will partner with our suppliers to provide energy-efficient products and source materials within a circular economy enabling our customers to meet their own net zero ambitions.
In order to continue our progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction policies.

Our supply chain

We are developing technology-led solutions to aid our client and customer base to measure and reduce emissions via the application of Cloud based solutions.

Flexible Working

Our strong flexible working policy and homeworking policies, as well as changed working patterns resulting from Covid, have given staff increased flexibility over where they work. This in turn decreases the need for travel and is reducing the demand for office space, driving a reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as those Scope 3 emissions associated with business travel and employee commute.

Our Estate

We source our electricity from renewable sources via our landlord. Energy efficient equipment is used throughout the building. All office and communal area lighting are controlled by PIR sensors and non-occupancy timers to minimise energy wastage in un-occupied areas.

Net Zero Carbon Travel Commitment

We are mindful in our travel procedures to ensure that digital meetings are prioritised and that lower carbon transport alternatives are selected wherever possible. We participate in the Cycle2Work scheme, which provides employees with significant savings on the cost of a bicycle, encouraging them to this use mode of transport rather than drive and help reduce the UK’s carbon footprint.

Net Zero Culture

We have embedded a net-zero focussed culture throughout our organization, by aligning the interests of our employees, customers, community and the environment. We have an Ultima Eco Pledge behavioural change initiative, targeted at actions individuals can take to help drive a reduction in our corporate carbon footprint in relation things like waste, energy use and business travel, as well as looking at their own personal carbon footprint and lifestyle impacts.

We hold an annual ESG month to inform and encourage all our staff on our low carbon ambitions.

This is coupled with an Intranet site covering all of our sustainability and ESG projects and initiatives.

We provide ESG and low carbon training via our E-learning platform EdApp.

Value-Added Carbon Reduction

We’ve partnered with Ecologi to create a Climate Positive Workforce, working in collaboration with The Eden Reforestation Projects. Ecologi plant millions of trees around the world each month to combat climate change. In working with Ecologi we are taking immediate action above and beyond our carbon targets to contribute to reaching global net-zero through beyond-value chain mitigation (BVCM) – actions that go beyond our company’s value chain.

We plant a tree for every new employee, virtual event registration, and cloud customer. To date we have planted almost 4,000 trees planted in Ultima’s Virtual Forest.

Carbon Removal

We are preparing our low-carbon transition strategy using the greenhouse gas hierarchy of avoid, reduce, eliminate and compensate. For carbon emissions that we are not able to further reduce, we will be investing in high-quality certified offsetting programmes to offset any residual emissions.

Future Carbon Reduction Initiatives

Behavioural Change
We will run ongoing programmes of behavioural change to support changes to business travel and to reduce demand for energy consumption. By promoting an environmental culture, creating awareness, educating and providing employees with the tools to allow them to take into consideration, the environment in all decision-making processes and through employee
empowerment to further decarbonise our business.

Scope 3

We are reviewing our Scope 3 emissions to identify further carbon reduction opportunities, refine and improve data quality and capture. We are collecting data and will drive a carbon reduction strategy in relation to:
– Purchased goods and services
– Waste generation
– Employee commuting
– Business travel
– Use of sold products
– End of life of sold products

Decarbonise our supply chain

We will engage with key suppliers and encourage them to decarbonise and set emissions reduction
targets. Carbon emission reduction priorities will be integrated into our contracts.

Gap Analysis
We will be undertaking a materiality assessment to better understand how Ultima can achieve our low carbon transition in line with our material impacts.

In 2024 we will align with the UK’s Net Zero Ambition for zero-carbon transformation, by setting emissions reduction targets grounded in climate science through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

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 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. This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body).

Signed: Tamsin Ashmore, CFO, Ultima
Date: 10/05/2023