We have set out a detailed roadmap that will enable us to achieve these goals and will provide regular updates on our progress, both in future reports and in our quarterly results announcements. This will drive our own progress and demonstrate our environmental leadership within our sector. 

    Our climate goals

    We have set three key Group-wide targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

    • To be carbon neutral by 2025 (including our Scope 1 and 2 emissions and business travel)
    • To use 100% renewable electricity by 2025
    • To achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030
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    Our carbon footprint

    In support of these goals, in 2022 our main environmental focus was on reducing our operational emissions, analysing existing policies and data to optimise our decarbonisation effort, and mapping our Scope 3 emissions (those not produced by our own activities but those for which we are responsible within our value chain). The breakdown of our Carbon Footprint can be seen here. 

     

     

     

    Carbon-footprint

    Energy consumption

    Due to the nature of our operations, our largest direct impact on the environment is the energy and resources required to run our 25 offices and our fleet of over 100 cars across our DACH and Nordic regions. However, the shift to hybrid working has provided opportunities to reduce the energy usage across our offices, as well as reducing emissions created by colleagues commuting. We are also continually seeking ways to make the most efficient use of energy and resources in our offices. Our progress towards lowering our energy consumption can be seen here.   

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    Switching to renewable energy

    We used 9.3 MWh of electricity to power our offices in 2021. Switching to renewable sources of electricity and away from traditional 'brown' sources is an important step in reducing our carbon footprint. We already have renewable electricity tariffs for ten office locations, and 61% of our total consumption in 2021 was from renewable electricity sources.   

     

     

     

    Scope3-categories

    Measuring our indirect emissions (Scope 3)

    In 2022, Lowell undertook a Scope 3 screening exercise to get a better understanding of our full value chain impacts. Based on our organisational structure and activities, we worked with our sustainability partners to identify which scope 3 emissions categories, according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, are relevant to our business.  

     

     

    Lowell's main Scope 3 Categories

    This screening gave us a good basis for completing a more detailed inventory of our emissions and will provide an initial basis for action on reducing our scope 3 emissions. In 2023 we will focus on improving the completeness and accuracy of our activity data. We will then be able to complete a full greenhouse gas inventory.   

    Our five point plan for emissions reduction

    To help us achieve our environmental targets, we have developed a five-point plan for reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions. We will do this through:

    1. Switching to 100% renewable electricity across all our sites

    2. Identifying and implementing energy efficiency opportunities on high-emission sites with long-term lease commitments

    3. Optimising office space to align with needs of hybrid working model

    4. Incorporating green credentials into new site requirements

    5. Removing all internal combustion engine vehicles from our fleet by 2030 in line with our Net Zero goal

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    Waste

    In the UK, we have already achieved our goal of sending zero waste to landfill. In 2023, we are developing a new plan to address sustainable waste management, including engaging our Environment Involve Group of colleague volunteers and completing waste audits. Paper consumption is also an area where we identified as being relevant to our business and to the impacts we have on the environment. In 2022, we mapped our paper purchasing and use across the business to help us evaluate ways to reduce paper use. 

     

     

     

    Sustainability Viewpoints

    Sustainability viewpoints: Explore more stories about our commitment to be environmentally responsible

    Engaging colleagues on the environment

    Formed in June 22, our Environmental Involve Group (EIG) helps our colleagues put their personal passion for the planet to good use.

    Learn More
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    Download sustainability report