Having set an ambitious target in 2020 to achieve Net Zero across our core operational emissions by the end of 2025, we are proud to confirm that this goal has now been achieved.

Committed to carbon reduction

We have reached Net Zero across all fuel and energy-related activities within our direct control (Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, Market Based). This milestone has been delivered through sustained investment and operational change, with the backing of our senior leadership team, and led by Facilities Manager, Jaime Thornton, ensuring our offices are run with sustainability at their core.

Over the past few years, we have made a series of significant improvements to our operations, including:

  • Investment in the generation and use of 100% renewable electricity
  • Major upgrades to our Exeter office, improving its EPC rating from C to A
  • Installation of EV charge points and the introduction of an electric pool car
  • Conversion from gas-fired heating to a ground-source heat pump
  • The continued embedding of wider renewable and energy-efficiency initiatives

Taken together, these measures have driven a substantial reduction in emissions from our core operations, allowing the small residual balance to be addressed through high-quality carbon removal.

But this is only part of the picture.

We originally began measuring our carbon footprint in 2019, focusing on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions alongside business travel. As our understanding has matured, we have expanded our reporting to include a growing number of Scope 3 categories. These indirect emissions – such as waste management and supply-chain services – are more complex and often sit beyond our direct control, but they are areas where we can still influence change.

Across six years of consistent measurement, we have achieved a reduction of over 90% in our core operational emissions. When taking into account the additional Scope 3 categories introduced over the last three years, we have delivered a 30.45% reduction across this broader footprint during that period.

People-powered change

Our people are at the heart of Stephens Scown, and we recognise both the value they bring to our business and the environmental impact associated with how we work. With a geographically dispersed workforce across the South West, travel – particularly business travel and employee commuting – remains one of our largest sources of emissions, one of the hardest areas to tackle, and an area that has a direct impact on our local environment.

Travel plays a big role in our business, and while we’re working to reduce it, we’ve also invested in high-quality carbon removal projects to deal with the emissions that remain.

These emissions are being addressed through two carefully selected projects: a forest restoration initiative in Nicaragua and the Plant One project in Cornwall.

The Nicaraguan project, delivered via the Norteak Group, is a sustainable forestry initiative managing over 3,500 hectares of reforested and protected land. It focuses on teak and native-species plantations to capture carbon, restore degraded land and supply sustainably managed timber, while protecting 120 hectares of existing rainforest. The project also delivers significant social benefits, including training and employment opportunities, investment in local infrastructure and support for inclusive, sustainable development in rural communities.

Closer to home, Stephens Scown will support the planting of 317 trees through Plant One to help restore the Celtic temperate rainforest in Cornwall. As a Community Interest Company, Plant One works with landowners and local communities to increase carbon capture, create wildlife habitats and enhance biodiversity across the region. We’re also looking forward to getting our hands dirty on one of the planting days!

Alongside these measures, we continue to embed sustainability into how we operate as a business, including:

  • A green travel policy with a strong emphasis on our people choosing sustainable methods of travel, including car sharing
  • Careful supplier selection through our sustainable procurement process
  • A paper-lite approach, prioritising digital files wherever feasible

Verity Slater, Partner in the Employment team and sustainability lead on the firm’s Executive Committee, commented:

“When we set our 2025 target, we wanted it to be both ambitious and achievable – a goal that would genuinely demonstrate our commitment to building a better future. Reaching it shows what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose and determination to do what’s right.

“While this is a fantastic milestone, we know it is only the beginning. There is still more to do, and we will continue to look for ways to further reduce our carbon footprint in the years ahead.”

Continuing our Net Zero journey

Looking forward, Stephens Scown remains committed to continuous improvement as we progress on our wider sustainability journey, including our ambition to recertify our B Corp™ accreditation – a reflection of our commitment to balancing purpose with performance.

Stephens Scown was supported in achieving this milestone by Cornwall-based Carbon Sense, which works with organisations to develop credible, reduction-first Net Zero strategies grounded in robust data and long-term action.