RCS - Dignity PLC - Dignity Announces Aim to be Net Zero By 2038

DignityAnnouncement

20/07/2022 09:00

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RNS Number : 1177T  Dignity PLC  20 July 2022

 

 
     20 July 2022

DIGNITY ANNOUNCES AIM TO BE NET ZERO BY 2038

Dignity plc, the UK's only listed provider of funeral and end of life
services, has announced its aim to be net zero across its network by 2038 in a
mission to become the UK's most sustainable end-of-life services provider.

The pledge, outlined at the Group's AGM on 9 June 2022, is underpinned by the
organisation's new guiding principles that include a dedicated value focused
on protecting the environment and prioritising sustainable practices.

Dignity has also undertaken measures throughout 2021 to reduce its carbon
footprint through launching a project to investigate the installation of EV
charging points at crematory and depot sites as part of a strategy to change
replacement fleet and company vehicles from petrol and diesel to hybrid and
electric.

The Company has this year reported in line with the formal climate disclosures
mandated for listed firms through the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (TCFD). Dignity has elected to take a pragmatic step completing a
voluntary disclosure in the belief that TCFD provides a strong framework for
its climate pledge and strategy to develop.

Dignity is using the findings from 2021's TCFD voluntary submission as the
baseline for Scope 1 and 2 reporting and a platform to understand Scope 3
emissions in more detail. Last year the business established an Environmental
and Sustainability Committee with a primary purpose to define a three year
Environmental and Sustainability Strategy.

Kate Davidson, Chief Executive at Dignity, said:

"Our ambition at Dignity to be net zero by 2038 covers reducing carbon
emissions from all of our owned operations, funeral branches, crematoria and
care centres, to our fleet and a view to mitigating our impact through our
supply chain.

Social and environmental factors are firmly integrated into our business
operations and interactions with stakeholders. Being socially and
environmentally accountable matters to us because we are a responsible end of
life service provider that cares about the environment in which we operate and
for the communities we serve. It's something that people are making more
active choices about when looking for a service provider; it affects
investment decisions among shareholders, and it helps to attract and retain
great talent who feel proud of who they work for.

The funeral and crematoria sector has an important role to play in minimising
it's impact on our environment as a provider of a key public service. We know
our aim is ambitious, but we are committed to leading the way and setting the
standard in our sector.

This year we have been assessing our current position and we have been
collecting data on our carbon emissions and energy use and reporting to the
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2010. Our core emissions reduced by 27%
from 2014 to 2019, an achievement which saw us recognised in the FT/Statista's
Top 200 for Europe's Climate Leaders in 2021."

In recent years, we have introduced a number of measures to make our
facilities more efficient and our products and services more environmentally
sustainable. For example, 100% of our energy now comes from renewable sources,
all new crematoria will be fitted with NOx abatement measures, and we are
introducing reusable coffin covers.

In 2022, we are laying the groundwork for a successful path to net zero. This
will include enhancing our data collection processes, particularly within our
supply chain for Scope 3 emissions, and setting short-, medium- and long-term
aims. We will also be considering the adoption of the Science-based Targets
Initiative.

Our newly formed Environmental and Sustainability Committee, which consists of
operational experts and central service colleagues from across the business
including members of our senior leadership, will define a three year
Environmental and Sustainability Strategy for the Dignity Group and ensure
sustainability is embedded throughout our organisation."

ENDS

For more information

John Castagno, Chairman

Tim George, Company Secretary

Dignity
plc
+44 (0)20 7466 5000

Chris Lane

Hannah Ratcliff

Verity Parker

Buchanan
 
+44 (0)20 7466 5000

 

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