Carbon Reduction Plan
Carbon Reduction Plan for ProCheckUp
Introduction: As a leading international cyber-security company,ProCheckUp Limited recognizes the importance of contributing to the global effort to combat climate change. Our Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) outlines the steps we will take to minimize our carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption. This plan supports our commitment to environmental sustainability, aligns with international best practices, and adheres to UK government targets for carbon reduction.
Our CRP is designed to address both direct and indirect emissions associated with our operations, supply chain, and service delivery. This comprehensive approach will allow us to meet our carbon reduction goals and ensure that we are an environmentally responsible leader in the cybersecurity industry.
1. Objectives of the Carbon Reduction Plan
The primary objectives ofProCheckUp Limited's Carbon Reduction Plan are to:
- Achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
- Enhance energy efficiency across all business operations.
- Reduce Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in line with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
- Promote sustainability within our supply chain by engaging with suppliers to reduce their carbon impact.
- Transparently report on carbon reduction progress through annual disclosures.
2. Scope of the Plan
The Carbon Reduction Plan will cover the following scopes of emissions:
Scope 1 – Direct Emissions: These are emissions from sources that are owned or controlled byProCheckUp Limited, including fuel combustion from company-owned vehicles and on-site energy generation (if applicable).
Scope 2 – Indirect Emissions from Energy: These emissions result from the electricity, heating, and cooling thatProCheckUp Limited purchases and consumes in our offices and data centers.
Scope 3 – Other Indirect Emissions: These emissions are from sources not owned or directly controlled byProCheckUp Limited, but which are related to our operations. This includes emissions from employee commuting, business travel, outsourced data centers, and our supply chain.
By addressing all three scopes, we ensure that our carbon reduction efforts encompass the full extent of our environmental impact.
3. Energy Use and Efficiency
Current Energy Use:ProCheckUp Limited currently operates several office locations across the UK and Malaysia and manages both in-house and outsourced data centers. Our energy consumption primarily arises from:
- Electricity usage in office spaces.
- Heating and cooling systems.
- Powering data centers (both in-house and third-party services).
Energy Efficiency Measures: To reduce our energy consumption,ProCheckUp Limited will implement the following measures:
- Switch to renewable energy: We will transition to 100% renewable electricity sources for all office locations and data centers by 2030.
- Energy-efficient equipment: We will upgrade existing office equipment to energy-efficient models and implement automated systems to manage lighting and HVAC operations.
- Server optimization: We will work to optimize server energy consumption by using advanced power management techniques such as virtualization, dynamic workload distribution, and transitioning to energy-efficient hardware.
- Remote working policies: By promoting remote working, we aim to reduce office-based energy consumption. We will also encourage energy-saving practices among employees working from home.
We expect these measures to reduce our Scope 2 emissions by 40% by 2028.
4. Transportation and Business Travel
Current Emissions from Transportation:
- Employee Commuting: Many of our employees commute by car, which contributes to Scope 3 emissions.
- Business Travel: Business travel, particularly air travel for client meetings and industry conferences, accounts for a significant portion of our Scope 3 emissions.
Reduction Strategies:
- Promote public and low-carbon transportation: We will introduce incentives for employees to use public transportation, cycle, or walk to work. For those who need to drive, we will encourage the use of electric vehicles by providing charging stations at our offices.
- Reduce air travel: Wherever possible, we will reduce air travel by encouraging the use of virtual meeting technologies (e.g., video conferencing). We aim to reduce air travel by 50% by 2026, with further reductions thereafter.
- Offset unavoidable travel emissions: For essential travel, we will implement a carbon offset program to neutralize the impact of any unavoidable business trips.
5. Waste Management and Resource Use
Current Waste and Resource Consumption: As a technology-driven company,ProCheckUp Limited generates waste from electronic equipment, office supplies, and packaging. Additionally, our business operations require significant use of natural resources, particularly in manufacturing and maintaining IT hardware.
Waste Reduction Initiatives:
- Reduce e-waste: We will implement a policy of extending the lifecycle of our IT equipment through repair and refurbishment. For end-of-life devices, we will partner with certified e-waste recycling companies to ensure responsible disposal.
- Paperless operations: We aim to become a fully paperless office by 2026 by digitizing all documentation processes and encouraging employees to use digital alternatives to printing.
- Minimize single-use plastics: We will phase out the use of single-use plastics in our offices and during events by 2030, switching to sustainable alternatives such as reusable or biodegradable materials.
These initiatives are expected to reduce our overall waste production by 30% by 2028, with an ultimate goal of sending zero waste to landfill by 2030.
6. Supply Chain Management
Current Supply Chain Emissions:ProCheckUp Limited relies on a range of third-party suppliers for hardware, software, and cloud infrastructure services. Many of these suppliers have their own environmental footprints, contributing to our overall Scope 3 emissions.
Supply Chain Carbon Reduction Strategies:
- Supplier engagement: We will require all key suppliers to submit their own Carbon Reduction Plans. By 2025, we aim for 80% of our supply chain to align with our environmental standards and commit to carbon reduction targets.
- Preference for sustainable suppliers: We will prioritize working with suppliers who have demonstrated sustainability initiatives, such as using renewable energy, reducing waste, and lowering carbon emissions.
- Collaboration for innovation: We will collaborate with suppliers to explore ways to reduce emissions through innovative solutions such as energy-efficient hardware and greener cloud services.
Supply Chain Assessment:
- All new and existing suppliers will be assessed annually to ensure compliance with our carbon reduction goals. We will incorporate environmental performance as a key criterion in our supplier selection and renewal processes.
7. Carbon Offsetting and Renewable Energy Projects
Offsetting Strategy: While our primary focus is on reducing emissions, we recognize that certain carbon emissions are unavoidable, particularly those related to business travel and outsourced data centers. To mitigate this, we will implement a carbon offsetting strategy that includes:
- Investing in certified carbon offset projects: We will partner with internationally recognized offset providers who offer verifiable projects, such as reforestation, methane capture, and renewable energy projects.
By 2030,ProCheckUp Limited aims to offset 100% of its unavoidable carbon emissions, ensuring that any remaining emissions are fully neutralized.
8. Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification
Monitoring Systems:ProCheckUp Limited implements an Environmental Management System (EMS) to monitor and track progress toward our carbon reduction goals. This system will include:
- Energy monitoring: Automated energy monitoring systems in all offices and data centers to track real-time energy consumption and identify areas for improvement.
- Carbon footprint tracking: We use specialised carbon accounting software to track our carbon footprint across all three scopes (1, 2, and 3). This software will integrate data from various sources, including energy bills, transportation records, and supply chain information.
Annual Reporting:
- Internal Reporting: We report our carbon reduction performance to senior management on a bi weekly basis. This will include updates on energy consumption, waste reduction, emissions, and progress toward our set targets.
- External Reporting:ProCheckUp Limited will publish an annual Carbon Reduction Report detailing our progress, challenges, and future plans. This report will be made publicly available on our website and shared with stakeholders, including clients, partners, and regulatory bodies.
Third-Party Verification:
- We will engage independent auditors to verify our carbon reduction performance and validate our reporting. This verification process will ensure transparency and accountability in our carbon reduction efforts.
9. Governance and Accountability
Board-Level Responsibility:
- A designated board member or senior manager will oversee the implementation of the Carbon Reduction Plan. This individual will be responsible for ensuring that all departments meet their carbon reduction targets and that progress is regularly communicated to the Board.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration:
- Carbon reduction is a company-wide initiative. Each department, from IT to HR, will have specific responsibilities in achieving our carbon reduction goals. For example, the IT department will focus on optimizing data center energy efficiency, while the Facilities team will be tasked with reducing office energy consumption and waste.
Employee Involvement:
- Employees will be trained on sustainability practices and encouraged to participate in carbon reduction initiatives. Regular workshops, awareness programs, and incentive schemes will be used to engage employees in reducing their personal and professional environmental impact.
10. Target and Timeline
Interim Targets:
- By 2025, we aim to reduce our carbon emissions by 30% through energy efficiency measures and supply chain improvements.
- By 2030, we plan to have reduced emissions by 50%, with significant reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions through the transition to renewable energy and optimized operations.
Long-Term Vision:
- Beyond 2035,ProCheckUp Limited will continue to refine its sustainability strategies. This includes investigating innovations in carbon capture technology, green software development, and zero-waste initiatives.
11. CDP Disclosure and Stakeholder Engagement
CDP Disclosure:
- ProCheckUp Limited is committed to transparent environmental reporting and will disclose its carbon emissions data through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) annually. This disclosure will include information on:
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
- Progress made in energy efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable energy usage.
- Steps taken to mitigate climate-related risks and capitalize on environmental opportunities.
The CDP report will be made publicly available on ProCheckUp Limited's website and will be shared with stakeholders, including clients, suppliers, investors, and regulatory authorities.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- We believe that engaging with stakeholders is essential for the success of our Carbon Reduction Plan. To this end, we will:
- Engage clients: By working closely with our clients, we will help them understand how our carbon reduction efforts contribute to their own environmental goals. We will provide clients with detailed environmental impact reports as part of our service agreements, showcasing how our services align with their sustainability requirements.
- Collaborate with suppliers: We will work collaboratively with suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts, encouraging them to adopt sustainable practices that align with our carbon reduction goals. Regular meetings and updates will be held to ensure suppliers are on track to meet their own carbon reduction targets.
- Communicate with employees: Regular updates on our carbon reduction progress will be shared with employees through internal communication channels, such as newsletters, team meetings, and an internal dashboard. We will celebrate milestones and encourage further engagement through recognition programs and incentives.
12. Alignment with the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
Validation and Alignment:
- ProCheckUp Limited has aligned its Carbon Reduction Plan with the guidelines set out by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our targets are designed to support the global effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris Agreement.
- Our near-term target of reducing emissions by 50%. By adhering to these science-based targets, we ensure that our carbon reduction strategy is both ambitious and credible.
Tracking and Adjustment:
- As part of our commitment to the SBTi, we will regularly review and adjust our carbon reduction targets to reflect changes in technology, business growth, and global environmental standards. This flexibility will allow us to adapt to new opportunities for carbon reduction while maintaining alignment with science-based objectives.
13. Risk Management and Climate Resilience
Climate Change Risk Assessments:
- In addition to reducing emissions,ProCheckUp Limited will continuously assess the risks that climate change poses to our operations, supply chain, and service delivery. This includes:
- Physical risks: Assessing how climate-related events (e.g., extreme weather, flooding) could impact our infrastructure and data centers.
- Transition risks: Evaluating the regulatory and market changes associated with the shift to a low-carbon economy, and ensuring that our business is well-positioned to adapt to these changes.
- These assessments will be conducted annually, with findings reported to senior management and the board to ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are in place.
Building Climate Resilience:
- To increase our resilience to climate change, we will invest in infrastructure upgrades and adopt technologies that reduce our vulnerability to climate-related disruptions. This includes enhancing data backup systems, ensuring physical offices and data centers are equipped to withstand extreme weather conditions, and implementing adaptive strategies to maintain business continuity in the face of climate-related challenges.
14. Conclusion and Future Commitments
ProCheckUp Limited's Carbon Reduction Plan outlines a clear and actionable path using targeted energy efficiency measures, sustainable supply chain practices, waste reduction initiatives, and ongoing stakeholder engagement, we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact and contributing to global climate action.
By aligning our goals with international standards like the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and maintaining transparency through CDP reporting,ProCheckUp Limited aims to lead the cybersecurity industry toward a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
We will continue to update this plan annually to reflect our progress, adapt to emerging best practices, and ensure that we meet or exceed our environmental targets. With the support of our employees, clients, suppliers, and stakeholders, we are confident in our ability to achieve these ambitious goals and contribute to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.