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How EY is driving a more environmentally sustainable future

Sustainability is one of the defining challenges of our lifetime. We’re rising to that challenge and helping others to do the same, taking action across our operations to address key environmental challenges, setting bold targets and devising ambitious strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and wider environmental impacts. And we are proud to have achieved a number of environmental standards and credentials along the way.


We recognise, however, that we can – and must – do more

As the need for action becomes ever more pressing, we are taking action across our operations to address key environmental challenges and have set bold targets to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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Our progress

In January 2021, the EY organisation announced a global science-based decarbonisation target of reaching net zero in 2025 with a 40% reduction in our absolute Scopes 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions against the FY19 baseline, based on the relevant standards and definitions at that time.

In response to this goal, Ernst & Young LLP ('EY UK') developed specific emissions reduction targets and a UK strategy comprising six key actions critical to achieving net zero. 

 

Evolving the global carbon ambition of the EY organisation

The actions the EY organisation has taken since FY21 have delivered progress, integration and innovation. From decarbonisation and energy efficiency to expanded reporting, enabling technology and investing in our skills and services, the legacy of the first phase of this carbon ambition will be how it has embedded sustainability in the wider growth and evolution of our organisation for the long term. 

Building on recent progress, the EY organisation is currently undertaking a planned five-year review of the scope and pathway for the strategy to align with updated standards. During FY25, we will publish an updated EY Environment Strategy encompassing a science aligned decarbonisation plan, including near- and long-term targets and plans to assess our impact on nature and biodiversity. The next five years are crucial to secure the progress on climate and nature needed by 2030, which will underpin a longer-term stable, affordable and equitable transition. The EY organisation is committed to playing its part in translating ambition to action, in our business, with our people and in wider society.

 

Investing in the power of renewables

We began procuring renewable electricity for our UK offices in 2007 and, in 2019, we switched from natural gas to renewable biogas. But our carbon ambition drove us to seek new opportunities to create long-term sustainable value for our communities and planet.

In December 2020, EY UK announced a 10-year zero carbon Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This long-term commitment significantly contributed to the commercial viability of constructing a new solar power station project based in Norfolk, by providing certainty of revenue at a fixed price for 10 years.

Thornham Solar Farm went online in October 2021, generating Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) enabling 100% of EY UK’s electricity consumption to be backed by renewables certification. And our PPA contributes to the wider decarbonisation of the electricity generation sector, by adding more renewable electricity to the grid than we consume.  

Explore more

Discover more about EY’s environmental performance and our approach to managing our impacts:

Reducing single-use plastics

The scale and severity of the impact of plastics pollution on marine environments, wildlife and ultimately human health is undeniable.

In recent years a global call to action from international organisations, governments – and our own people – led us to adopt an ambitious programme to radically reducing single-use plastics consumption in our UK offices. And we’ve had some amazing results.

Discover more about our plastics reduction strategy.

Working in partnership with our suppliers

We recognise that it’s not just our own direct environmental impacts which we can influence. It’s also important for us to work closely with our supply partners to minimise the footprint of our entire supply chain.

We aim to engage and collaborate with environmentally responsible companies that drive innovation and continually look for ways to reduce the impact of the goods and services we buy.

Our carbon ambition provides the focus for aligning our suppliers’ values with our own environmental targets, and we are committed to employing best practice in supply chain evaluation and monitoring.

Engaging our people​

​Our people are building a better working world through working with all our stakeholders – from clients to wider communities. We understand the value they create by using their knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil our purpose and create positive long-term sustainable change.

Engaging and empowering our people to create that change is integral to our success.

Our employee network of Eco-innovators is a firm-wide community of colleagues who are passionate and committed to embedding environmental sustainability into every aspect of our lives, using smart thinking and smart technology to solve environmental pr​​​​​​​oblems.  

Sustainability challenges and opportunities

 

We’re investing in solutions to help businesses decarbonise and meet environmental, social, and corporate governance requirements.

Find out more
Transparency report 2023

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.