Carbon neutral to carbon net-zero

Gamma pledged to be a CarbonNeutral® business in 2006 and has remained so since then. The company has its energy and carbon emissions data independently assessed by Climate Impact Partners, in line with the Carbon Neutral Protocol. Each year, we offset our total emissions by investing in voluntary emissions reduction projects. So, for every 1 tonne of CO2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that Gamma emits, we’re taking steps to prevent 1 tonne of GHG occurring somewhere else in the world.

We have pledged to continue to take action and make investments outside our own value chain to mitigate GHG emissions in addition to our pledge to reduce emissions as per our near-term and long-term targets. Over the years Gamma has invested in a variety of "offset projects" which have been a combination of environmentally friendly power generation projects in the developing world and forest conservation.

In 2021 we outlined our ambition to develop a carbon net-zero plan. As such, following the baseline of GHG emissions in 2021, we are now committed to becoming a carbon net-zero group company by 2042. Net-zero differs from carbon neutral in that it requires a significant reduction in emissions to a point at which we can demonstrably show any remaining emissions are business critical. We are currently developing a full emissions reduction plan to support our ambition, using the guidelines set out by the Science-based Target initiative (SBTi).

Our carbon net-zero plan outlines our high-level reduction targets across each of the five four-year phases. We are not only looking to reduce the Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in our own operations. Our ambition includes working with our suppliers to reduce supply chain emissions, a dominant contributor to Scope 3 indirect emissions. Our confidence around achieving this is high we already know that two-thirds of our suppliers have an understanding of their environmental impact and have quantified their emissions. We also believe that market changes and public perception will prompt more companies to take positive action on carbon net-zero and develop their own emissions reduction plans.

Our carbon net-zero plan

Emissions reduction projects and activity are ongoing throughout our business operations, supported by an Environmental Management Policy. From considering the environmental credentials of new office premises, through to replacing our lightbulbs, Gamma is taking proactive steps to reduce our impact on the environment.

Gamma continues to improve the energy efficiency of its data centres and its technology. Annual capital expenditure investment ensures that we deploy energy efficient technology and continue to optimise our heating, ventilation and air-conditioning in key data centres. A rolling programme of decommissioning ensures that legacy and energy-hungry infrastructure is replaced.

We already consider the environmental credentials of vendors for all computing and network equipment and this year have extended that to consider how future office space and locations will impact our ambition to reduce GHG emissions. This includes assessing any future acquisitions for potential impact.

Gamma’s operational impact on ecology and biodiversity is very low. At group level there are three staff premises within 1km of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). We will continue to assess proximity to KBAs in respect of staff premises and other facilities.

We purchase 100% renewable energy to power our business in the UK, and our ambition is to purchase 100% renewable energy across our Group over the next few years, in line with our carbon net zero targets.

Read our carbon reduction plan

Gamma’s commitment to move its small fleet of cars and vans over to self-gen hybrids is expected in 2023 and we expect to target the switch over to electric vehicles by 2030.

All office waste is separated into recyclable and non-recyclable materials and is disposed of appropriately, diverting from landfill wherever possible.

Wherever we can, we re-use hardware components in our own network and we also follow the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive to recycle devices if they cannot be re-purposed.

Gamma has partnered with Thales and announced that we will switch out SIM supply with an eco-designed card, made from recycled refrigerators, further reducing our environmental impact and contributing to a circular economy.

Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions Summary for 2022.

Gamma Emissions Summary 2022