Carbon reduction plan

Commitment to achieving net zero

Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions (when all Green House Gases (GHG) produced by the business will be equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment) at the latest by 2045 but an earlier date of Net Zero by 2040 has been set as a stretch target.

Reducing our GHG emissions brings significant benefits for us, our customers, suppliers and the wider community. Achieving Net Zero is also a legal requirement in the UK by 2050 according to the provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008.

Baseline Emissions Footprint

Baseline emissions are the reference point against which current or future emissions are measured. A baseline helps us evaluate our carbon performance and the effectiveness of reduction initiatives by allowing a comparison between a starting position and the actual situation after interventions.

In its measurement of energy and calculations of GHG emissions, Vanguard has adopted the principles of the ‘GHG Protocol Corporate Standard’ (see references at end), including the operational control method. The company started collating a quantified carbon footprint for the year 2021 and were assisted by an independent specialist Carbon Manager, Bath, UK. For the first baseline year, Vanguard screened in 7 of the 15 categories of Scope 3 GHG emissions. The intention was to increase the scope and accuracy of data collection and emissions calculations in subsequent years.

Current Emissions Reporting

Emissions Totals

Total emissions have increased since base year due to growth in business activities and improved accuracy of calculations:

Our Environment Social Governance Strategy 2022–2035.

To support our progress towards achieving Net Zero, we have adopted carbon reduction targets. The measures we are taking are estimated to reduce our carbon footprint, over a five-year period to 2026 (from baseline year), by around 24.7% in absolute tonnes of GHG emissions across the scopes. That is approximately 191 tCO2e and represents a decrease of 2.2% on current year emissions.
To help us to realise our commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2045, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets:

• Period to 2026: Interim target 100% of Scopes 1 & 2 to Net Zero
• Period to 2030: Interim target 100% of emissions under the control of the business to Net Zero
• Period to 2035: Interim target 35% of emissions the business influences to Net Zero
• Period to 2040: Interim target 60% of emissions the business influences to Net Zero
• Period to 2045: Target 100% of emissions the business influences to Net Zero

Carbon reductions in relation to activities in each of the three scopes will continue to be discussed, investigated and progressed by Vanguard.

Progress against these targets can be seen in the graph below:

Carbon Reduction Projects

The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented since the 2021 baseline:

• ISO 14001 certification
• In October 2022, we ceased procuring pure petrol / diesel company cars and are actively incentivising employees to elect for pure EV company cars.
• In the last 12 months we have switched to green energy providers for 80% (4 out of 5) business premises.
• Separating recyclable waste from landfill is mandatory at all sites.
• We continue to support hybrid working and encourage the continued use of virtual meeting platforms.
• Employees are encouraged to share transport wherever possible, and we offer Cycle to Work benefits.
• Continued investment in carbon capture projects around the world through a chosen partner, currently Klimate.

Our carbon reduction goals are approved and supported by the senior management team and the board of directors. In developing our strategy, we aim to deliver gradual but continuous improvements in our performance each year by implementing complementary measures such as:

• All premises to be powered by renewable sources by 2027.
• Pure petrol/diesel cars will not be available as company car options from 2022.
• Minimise waste and aim to achieve no waste to landfill by 2026.
• Conduct a full supply chain audit of all materials and services used in the making, maintenance and delivery of our mobile and modular buildings and begin selecting suppliers based upon their ESG performance and plans.
• Switch to lower-carbon materials or technologies. 2030 Target
• We aim to offer carbon neutral buildings by 2026/27 and carbon net zero buildings by 2027/28.
• Carry out an operational efficiency audit on mobile and modular buildings
• Quarterly track data and report progress on the outcomes of our efforts across our corporate operations.
• Promote learning and behaviour change to inform and motivate employees to reduce their own energy footprints.

Carbon Capture Projects

In order to be proactive, and to add momentum in the journey towards Net Zero, Vanguard is augmenting its efforts with investments in carbon removal projects.

We have partnered with Klimate.co who provide access to high-quality, innovative and verifiable carbon removal solutions aligned with science. We are investing in a mixed portfolio of engineered and nature-based carbon removal schemes to remove GHG emissions from the atmosphere.

In 2023 the business invested €45,000 which led to the removal of 450 tCO₂e:

And in 2024, we have invested a further €50,000 in carbon removal projects (500 tCO₂e).

Taking into account the procured carbon removals, Vanguard have off-set all scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2022 and 2023 and are committed to continuing with this.

Declaration and Sign Off

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.

GHG emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard² and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting³.

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) Standard⁴.

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

Signed on behalf of the Supplier:

Chris Blackwell-Frost
Chief Executive Officer
Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Ltd
November 2024

_² https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard
³ https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-conversion-factors-for-company-reporting
⁴ https://ghgprotocol.org/standards/scope-3-standard