The hard work happening across Thirteen to reduce our environmental impact has been recognised by independent auditors, who have recommended the renewal of our ISO14001 accreditation.
ISO14001 is a measure of how successfully an organisation is managing any potential negative impact on the environment, how it is working to reduce it and the management system created and implemented to do this.
The audit found that our environmental management system continues to be effective in managing environmental impacts and driving improvement, with positive feedback covering a range of services from repairs and grounds maintenance to new developments and our Thirteen Recycling Centre.
Among the highlights were:
- a 36.2% reduction in carbon intensity compared with our 2019/20 baseline
- more than 98% landfill avoidance at our recycling centre, exceeding our target of 95%
- continued progress towards improving the energy efficiency of our homes
- positive recognition for our recycling, reuse and upcycling activities, which help reduce waste while supporting customers most in need with furniture packs to set up their home
As part of the review, two minor areas for improvement were identified relating to hazardous waste documentation and monitoring contractors' environmental commitments. We’ll be taking steps to address both of these points and further improve our processes.
Jenni Johnston, environmental sustainability manager, said: “Renewing our ISO14001 accreditation is a fantastic result and a reflection of the commitment of colleagues across Thirteen.
“Our environmental objectives aren’t the responsibility of one team - they run through the whole organisation, from the homes we build and maintain to the way we manage waste and support our communities.
“We’re proud that this work has been recognised and look forward to building on this success to make a positive difference for our customers, communities and the environment.”
A key area of our focus remains on creating homes for our customers with a minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of C by 2030, boosting our use of renewable energy and setting out a clear path to reaching net zero by 2050.