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How EY is driving a more environmentally sustainable future

Sustainability is one of the defining challenges of our lifetime. We’re rising to that challenge and helping others to do the same, taking action across our operations to address key environmental challenges, setting bold targets and devising ambitious strategies to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and wider environmental impacts. We are proud to have achieved a number of environmental standards and credentials along the way.


We recognise, however, that we can – and must – do more

As the need for action becomes ever more pressing, we are addressing key environmental challenges and have set bold targets to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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Our progress

In FY21, the EY organisation announced a commitment to a 40% absolute GHG emissions reduction across the EY network by 2025 against an FY19 baseline. This shaped a seven-point plan to drive decisions, investment and focus throughout the organisation targeting science-aligned decarbonisation, skills development and client service transformation.

 

Progress against this plan includes:

 

GHG emissions

  • Since FY19, the EY organisation has grown 41% by revenue and 36% by people, whilst our total emissions declined by 40% to 832k tCO² e.

  • Emissions intensity per dollar of revenue has declined by 52% and our emissions per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) by 50%. 

 

Energy

  • Joined RE100, a global corporate renewable energy initiative which brings together hundreds of large businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity.

  • 88% of electricity consumed was matched with renewable energy sources.

 

Travel

  • 42% reduction in travel emissions.

  • Developed and implemented business travel emissions calculator.

 

Supply chain

  • 61% of top suppliers by spend have a validated Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) target.

 

Nature

  • Early adopter of Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and completed a readiness assessment with the first report.

 

Find out more about our progress to date.

 

Evolving the global carbon ambition of the EY organisation

 

The actions the EY organisation has taken since FY21 have delivered progress, integration and innovation. From decarbonisation and energy efficiency to expanded reporting, enabling technology and investing in our skills and services, the legacy of the first phase of this carbon ambition will be how it has embedded sustainability in the wider growth and evolution of our organisation for the long term. 

To build upon our progress to date, the firm  has reviewed and evolved its carbon ambition which included goals to 2025, publishing the EY Global Environment Strategy (PDF) which meets current guidelines for net zero. This strategy includes both a near-term target to halve emissions by FY30, and deep, sustained emissions reductions over time to achieve net zero by FY50 (90% GHG emissions reduction), both against an FY19 baseline.

 

Following the recent launch of the EY Global Environment Strategy, the UK Firm is now in the process of revising and developing its own targets and strategic approach to ensure its actions are fully aligned to the firm’s global commitments. We plan to publish the UK Environment Strategy at the end of FY26.

 

Investing in the power of renewables in the UK

 

We began procuring renewable electricity for our UK offices in 2007 and, in 2019, we switched from natural gas to renewable biogas. But our carbon ambition drove us to seek new opportunities to create long-term sustainable value for our communities and planet.

 

In December 2020, Ernst & Young LLP (EY UK) announced a 10-year zero carbon Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). This long-term commitment significantly contributed to the commercial viability of constructing a new solar power station project based in Norfolk, by providing certainty of revenue at a fixed price for 10 years.

 

Thornham Solar Farm went online in October 2021, generating Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) enabling 100% of the UK firm’s electricity consumption to be backed by renewables certification. Our PPA contributes to the wider decarbonisation of the electricity generation sector, by adding more renewable electricity to the grid than we consume.  

Explore more

Discover more about our environmental performance and approach to managing our impact:

Volunteers cleaning plastic waste for sustainability

Reducing single-use plastics

The scale and severity of the impact of plastics pollution on marine environments, wildlife and ultimately human health is undeniable.

In recent years a global call to action from international organisations, governments – and our own people – led us to adopt an ambitious programme to radically reducing single-use plastics consumption in our UK offices. And we’ve had some amazing results.

Discover more about our plastics reduction strategy.

Working in partnership with our suppliers

We recognise that it’s not just our own environmental impacts which we can influence. It’s also important for us to work closely with our supply partners to minimise the footprint of our entire supply chain.

We aim to engage and collaborate with environmentally responsible companies which drive innovation and continually look for ways to reduce the impact of the goods and services we buy.

Our carbon ambition provides the focus for aligning our suppliers’ values with our own environmental targets, and we are committed to employing best practice in supply chain evaluation and monitoring.

Engaging our people​

​Our people are building a better working world– from clients to wider communities. We understand the value they create by using their knowledge, skills and experience to fulfil our purpose and create positive long-term sustainable change. Learn more about our social responsibility.

Engaging and empowering our people to create change is integral to our success.

Our employee network of Eco-innovators is a firm-wide community of colleagues who are passionate and committed to embedding environmental sustainability into every aspect of our lives and to solve environmental pr​​​​​​​oblems. 

Sustainability challenges and opportunities

 

We’re investing in solutions to help businesses decarbonise and meet environmental, social, and corporate governance requirements.

Find out more
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EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.