20 Jul 2022 09:00
| 20 July 2022 |
DIGNITY ANNOUNCES AIM TO BE NET ZERO BY 2038
Dignity plc, the UK's only listed provider of funeral and end of life services, has announced its aim to be net zero across its network by 2038 in a mission to become the UK's most sustainable end-of-life services provider.
The pledge, outlined at the Group's AGM on 9 June 2022, is underpinned by the organisation's new guiding principles that include a dedicated value focused on protecting the environment and prioritising sustainable practices.
Dignity has also undertaken measures throughout 2021 to reduce its carbon footprint through launching a project to investigate the installation of EV charging points at crematory and depot sites as part of a strategy to change replacement fleet and company vehicles from petrol and diesel to hybrid and electric.
The Company has this year reported in line with the formal climate disclosures mandated for listed firms through the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Dignity has elected to take a pragmatic step completing a voluntary disclosure in the belief that TCFD provides a strong framework for its climate pledge and strategy to develop.
Dignity is using the findings from 2021's TCFD voluntary submission as the baseline for Scope 1 and 2 reporting and a platform to understand Scope 3 emissions in more detail. Last year the business established an Environmental and Sustainability Committee with a primary purpose to define a three year Environmental and Sustainability Strategy.
Kate Davidson, Chief Executive at Dignity, said:
"Our ambition at Dignity to be net zero by 2038 covers reducing carbon emissions from all of our owned operations, funeral branches, crematoria and care centres, to our fleet and a view to mitigating our impact through our supply chain.
Social and environmental factors are firmly integrated into our business operations and interactions with stakeholders. Being socially and environmentally accountable matters to us because we are a responsible end of life service provider that cares about the environment in which we operate and for the communities we serve. It's something that people are making more active choices about when looking for a service provider; it affects investment decisions among shareholders, and it helps to attract and retain great talent who feel proud of who they work for.
The funeral and crematoria sector has an important role to play in minimising it's impact on our environment as a provider of a key public service. We know our aim is ambitious, but we are committed to leading the way and setting the standard in our sector.
This year we have been assessing our current position and we have been collecting data on our carbon emissions and energy use and reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2010. Our core emissions reduced by 27% from 2014 to 2019, an achievement which saw us recognised in the FT/Statista's Top 200 for Europe's Climate Leaders in 2021."
In recent years, we have introduced a number of measures to make our facilities more efficient and our products and services more environmentally sustainable. For example, 100% of our energy now comes from renewable sources, all new crematoria will be fitted with NOx abatement measures, and we are introducing reusable coffin covers.
In 2022, we are laying the groundwork for a successful path to net zero. This will include enhancing our data collection processes, particularly within our supply chain for Scope 3 emissions, and setting short-, medium- and long-term aims. We will also be considering the adoption of the Science-based Targets Initiative.
Our newly formed Environmental and Sustainability Committee, which consists of operational experts and central service colleagues from across the business including members of our senior leadership, will define a three year Environmental and Sustainability Strategy for the Dignity Group and ensure sustainability is embedded throughout our organisation."
ENDS
For more information
John Castagno, ChairmanTim George, Company Secretary
Dignity plc +44 (0)20 7466 5000
Chris LaneHannah Ratcliff
Verity Parker
Buchanan +44 (0)20 7466 5000