Net Zero
Our Net Zero ambition
CIWM is committed to the resources and waste sector’s critical journey towards Net Zero and believes that effective waste prevention as part of a functioning circular economy will be essential to support the UK’s climate objectives.
Our strategy recognises the unique and wider role that we, as the sector’s leading professional body, can play in supporting the behaviours, skills and knowledge required to drive positive change by the whole range of people involved in designing, producing, using and reusing products and resources, as we enable our industry to transition into one that embraces and supports circular business models, whilst recognising the crucial role that sustainable waste management practices will continue to play.
We believe that, by shepherding valuable resources back into the mainstream economy and fully embracing circular business models, our sector is uniquely placed to help deliver the changes society needs to mitigate climate change.
CIWM’s Net Zero Roadmap
Our Net Zero Roadmap includes a 2019 calculation of the organisation’s baseline carbon emissions. This provides a picture of emissions, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, that reflects a more typical level of activity. The baseline for CIWM and WAMITAB was set at 2,315 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent, with 95.8% of the emissions classified as Scope 3 (such as those associated with our investments and supply chains).
The roadmap also identifies the key areas to be addressed to decarbonise and reduce emissions across scopes 1, 2, and 3. This Net Zero Pathway includes reducing emissions from investments by 100%; decarbonising the delivery of events and training services, with 90% of training delivered online; and optimising business travel, cutting car journeys by 90% and utilising air travel only when unavoidable.
Our six steps towards Net Zero are:
- Reduce our reliance on print media and switch to online communication wherever possible.
- Decarbonise the delivery of our events and training services.
- Divest our investments away from fossil fuels towards carbon neutral investments.
- Engage with our supply chain to reduce emissions associated with all our business activities.
- Optimise our business travel and travel to events.
- Change our behaviour to improve energy efficiency and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in our core business activities.
When we published our Net Zero Road Map in August 2021, we committed to reporting on our progress against our targets annually and making that report available so that we can lead by example and make our own direct contribution to reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
Our journey to Net Zero began in February 2021, when we engaged consultants to calculate our 2019 emissions baseline, which was later published in our Net Zero Road Map. This report provides an update on CIWM's progress towards achieving its ambitious Net Zero commitment, building on the Net Zero Roadmap published in 2021.
Using 2019 as the baseline year, CIWM set a target of reaching Net Zero emissions by 2035—15 years ahead of the UK Government's 2050 target. Between 2019 and 2022, CIWM reduced its overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 50%, cutting total emissions from 2,348.4 tonnes of CO₂e to 1,130.1 tonnes of CO₂e. This significant reduction places the organisation ahead of its planned trajectory towards Net Zero.
Key achievements during the reporting period include:
- Scope 1 emissions eliminated ahead of schedule, achieving the 2030 target early following CIWM's office relocation and operational changes.
- Scope 2 emissions reduced by more than two-thirds, exceeding interim targets through improvements in energy use and workplace efficiency.
- Substantial reductions in Scope 3 emissions, driven by changes in business travel and evolving working practices.
Our latest carbon audit for 2024-25 recorded emissions of 269.1 tonnes of CO₂. As part of the next stage of our journey towards Net Zero by 2040, we are developing policies covering procurement, events and travel to drive further reductions, with another carbon audit planned for 2026 and our emissions data to be published to demonstrate progress.
The waste and resources sector plays a vital role in the UK’s transition to a net zero economy. CIWM continues to lead by example and support its members on their own journey to zero emissions.
Liz Parkes