Sustainability
N-ERGISE CARBON FOOTPRINT RESULTS 2023
The Carbon Footprint Calculator has been designed to help UK based SMEs measure their corporate emission footprint by following GHG Protocol Guidance. This includes direct emissions from fuel and processes (Scope 1 emissions) and emissions from purchased electricity (or Scope 2 emissions) for the assets they operate.
SOURCE OF DATA: SME Carbon Footprint Calculator supplied by the Carbon Trust
 | SME Carbon Footprint Calculator |
CARBON FOOTPRINT RESULTS FOR N-ERGISE HQ 2023
| Main sector: | Office-based |  |
|---|---|---|
| Site area (m2): | 800 | |
| Most relevant subsector: | Mixed room sizes | |
| Annual Electricity consumption: | 12,473 kWh – | 100% Renewable Sources (sun, wind & water) |
| Annual Natural Gas consumption: | 23,826 kWh | |
ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND LOW CARBON FUTURE
N-ERGISE is continually striving to identify and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support a climate-neutral economy. We aim to save energy, make efficient use of natural resources and promote activities that help mitigate the effects of climate change; including the use of renewable energy.
Carbon Neutral: any product or activity that causes no net increase in CO2 emissions to the atmosphere under ‘business as usual’ conditions.
N-ERGISE HQ has reduced the amount of carbon emissions we are responsible for each year since recording began at the start of 2020, therefore, N-ERGISE can be considered Carbon Neutral.
Our carbon reducing measures at our HQ include the installation of solar panels, clean energy EV chargers, motion sensor energy efficient LED lighting, company Electric Vehicles and regular maintenance of air conditioning units. These investments are having a positive impact, lowering our emissions at our HQ year after year.
Over the 4-year recording period, our emissions have reduced by 3,984 kgCO2e, a reduction of 37%.
Carbon neutral was never our goal, we have gone one step further by Carbon Offsetting our emissions.
During 2023 we offset more CO 2 than our combined annual emissions*, therefore, N-ERGISE can also be considered Carbon Negative
*Based on scope 1 and 2 figures for 2023.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
N-ERGISE aims to continually improve our environmental performance and strive to avoid negative biodiversity interference. We will prevent pollution, protect landscapes, protect ecosystems and adopt a reduce, reuse and recycle approach to waste. Our environmental impacts and legislative requirements are documented, actioned and reviewed to minimise our operational impact.
CARBON OFFSETTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Tree Planting Scheme
One of our environmental objectives for 2023 was to fund a tree planting scheme to offset our carbon footprint.
N-ERGISE funded the planting of 20 trees in East Anglia, benefitting our local region. The trees will enhance the natural landscape with native broad-leaved trees and provide sustainable habitat for wildlife. This reflects our Integrated Management System policy commitment; avoid negative biodiversity interference, protect landscapes and ecosystems.
- Each tree offsets approx. 1t of CO2. (20 trees = 20 tCO2)
Our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for 2023 equate to 6.761 tCO2e. However, this does not account for the extremely complex Scope 3 emissions
which include indirect emissions resulting from our operational projects (logistics / travel etc.).
By offsetting 20tCO2e we are acknowledging our undetermined scope 3 emissions and assisting in national targets.
Reduction of Single Use Plastic from our Supply Chain
During 2022 we switched to purchasing gloves manufactured from recycled plastic bottles for improved sustainability. Furthermore, there was no plastic packaging!
We continued the trend during 2023 by switching to manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with no plastic packaging. The PPE we purchase with no plastic packaging now includes coveralls and boots.
During 2023 an estimated 35kg of single use plastic waste was eradicated from our waste stream, 23kg more than 2022!
Solar Panels
| N-ERGISE invested in solar panels at our HQ during 2019. For the past 4 years we have been generating our own clean electricity. Using smart charging technology, the panels are directly linked to our commercial superfast 22kW EV chargers which solely operate from self-generated clean energy; powering our company electric vehicles and limiting the power we use from the grid. |  |
During 2023, our solar panels produced an additional 3984 kWh of electricity which could be exported back to the grid.
Sustainable Suppliers
The N-ERGISE Approved Vendor List (AVL) is continually evolving, as part of our procurement due diligence process, our suppliers are requested to supply a copy of their Environmental Management System (EMS) documentation and/or certification (ISO 14001:2015 or similar) where applicable. If a supplier does not hold accredited EMS certification, they must supply their environmental data and are encouraged to adhere to our Environmental standards.
The aim is to build success over the long term and create options for contributing to sustainable development by:
- Controlling or influencing the way N-ERGISE products and services are designed, manufactured, distributed, consumed and disposed by using a life cycle perspective that can prevent environmental impacts from being unintentionally shifted elsewhere within the life cycle;
- Protecting the environment, by preventing or mitigating adverse environmental impacts;
- Assisting N-ERGISE in the fulfilment of compliance obligations;
- Enhancing environmental performance;
- Achieving financial and operational benefits that can result from implementing environmentally sound alternatives;
- Communicating environmental information to relevant interested parties.
 | 35% of our Suppliers from 2023 are externally accredited to Environmental Management System Standard ISO 14001:2015. |
Waste Generation – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The waste generated at N-ERGISE HQ is currently sorted onsite (General,Recycling, Other) and collected by licensed Waste Contractors. Where waste cannot be recycled it is sent to be used as RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel) in an incineration facility which produces Energy from Waste.
By choosing a responsible waste contractor, this enables N-ERGISE to
achieve a diversion from landfill rate of up to 94%
N-ERGISE is committed to the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
| Earth Day 2023 – Community Science Project |  |
During the summer of 2023, N-ERGISE employees took part in the Natural History Museum Community Science Project, Nature Overheard – investigating the impact of noise pollution on insects near roads.
Stimulating positive action and investigation of nature in urban environments, the N-ERGISE team surveyed Gapton Hall Road, a busy main road in and out of Great Yarmouth, local to our HQ. The survey involved recording audio and recording insects by observation and photography.
Animals communicate with each other, often through making sounds. This means that in noisy environments, animals can be forced to change how they communicate so that they can be heard. Although insects play a critical role in sustaining a healthy environment, these effects have been too challenging to study at scale until now.
The project aims to enable collaboration, to make our roads better for nature by sharing the project results with road developers, councils and others.
Urban Nature Improvements
We set an objective during 2023 to implement urban nature improvements at N-ERGISE HQ.
Firstly, we committed to planting a box of English Lavender – a very good pollinating plant which are popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Throughout 2024 and many years to come, we hopefully will see these plants flourish.
Secondly, we purchased two bird boxes and a bug house with the intention of finding a suitable place in our HQ yard space. During 2023 we were introduced to WildEast, a project to return 250,000 hectares of land back to nature to slow, stop and reverse the alarming ecological decline; it’s a mission that needs people to leave a little land to do its own thing for insects, birds and other animals to make it their home. As we are on an industrial estate with minimal green areas we thought it more pertinent to give some land back to nature, therefore, N-ERGISE has pledged a small (2 x 10m) area of unused land to nature and rewilding. Hopefully this area will become a little haven for wildlife in our busy industrial estate.
