i10 is on a mission to set the standard for Social Value amongst suppliers in UK Government Digital, Data and Technology contracts.
Consequently, we have made commitments around 6 key social value indicators:
promoting diversity
end-users, inclusion and accessibility
innovation
environmental commitments
employment and training
engaging staff
This social value report provides an update on our environmental commitments.
Excitingly, we have partnered with Ecologi, a community and platform for climate action that is funding a huge range of leading climate solutions to one day be responsible for halving the world's emissions by 2040. Using Ecologi enables us to take climate action in two very positive ways. One is the planting of trees, and the other is supporting a wide range of established climate solutions.
Planting trees
Newly planted trees are years away from being the efficient carbon storage and wildlife sanctuaries that are destined for them. Planting a tree is investing in our future, however, we recognise that we cannot offset any footprints from newly planted trees.
Certified Carbon Offsets
Certified carbon offsets enable us to trade the unavoidable emissions from our business with a climate project that has been measured to make carbon reductions elsewhere in the world. For example, a wind farm that generates clean energy for the electricity grid can demonstrate it has avoided carbon emissions. By using carbon offsets, we are able to prove that their emission reduction has already happened in the past.
Our Progress
In May 2021 we became carbon negative - offsetting our carbon footprint through a programme to plant trees in school locations in the UK, with the added benefit of helping to educate children and support wildlife habitats whilst sequestering carbon emissions.
In late 2021 we converted our vehicles to hybrid technology to further reduce emissions.
But in 2022 we have gone much further, undertaking an extensive commitment to offset the carbon footprint we created since we were established back in 2006. We achieved this milestone in March 2022 by offsetting our historic carbon footprint through our partnership with Ecologi.
We also made additional commitments to offset the environmental impact of our work with the Food Standards Agency, committing, for every work-package signed, to plant 45 trees every month (540 trees per annum) to offset any carbon emissions created. By the end of March 2022 we had signed 20 work packages and have therefore planted 10,800 trees through Ecologi. Once mature, each of these trees will likely offset 48lbs of carbon each year, so we have already committed to offsetting 518,400 lbs of carbon per annum (once the trees are mature).
At the time of writing, we have planted a total of 17,500 trees and achieved 150 tonnes of carbon reduction. You can track our progress here.
Additionally:
We recognise that technology choices have environmental implications and factor this into our technical approach on engagements, including evaluating the environmental impact of e.g. capturing and storing data that’s not needed.
We have partnered with Computers4Charity who donate surplus computers, each one saving 30kg of CO2 output.