This certification marks a significant step forward in transitioning towards a low-carbon economy and remaining aligned with net zero targets, despite growing uncertainty following the UK government’s announcement of revisions to the net zero policy.
Neil Matthews, Managing Director at MSP, said: “As a team, we are delighted to have received this award. It is a huge recognition of MSP’s continued efforts to become more sustainable and help drive the manufacturing industry towards the UK’s net zero targets.”
“Despite the recent waves of uncertainty sparked by the government’s announcement of revisions to the net zero policy, it is critical that manufacturers maintain sustainability and innovation at the forefront of their strategic priorities so that we can continue to drive the industry forward.”
To achieve the certification, several members of the MSP team underwent Carbon Literacy training, equipping them with industry-leading knowledge and tools to understand and reduce their carbon footprints on both an individual and organisational level.
MSP’s participation in the Carbon Literacy Project, which has certified over 65,000 learners from more than 4,000 organisations since 2012, showcases the company’s dedication to combating climate change. Collectively, these organisations have taken more than 130,000 actions to combat climate change - resulting in savings of more than 230,000 tonnes of CO2e.
This comes amid wider economic uncertainty, as skilled labour shortages and increasing costs have continued to disrupt the manufacturing sector, and now new revisions to the net zero policy, have delayed the sector’s overall progression towards net-zero targets.
A recent report reveals that implementing net zero standards has slipped down the priority list for almost three-quarters of manufacturing companies.
It further found that only 2% of manufacturers surveyed knew the carbon footprint for the products they supply, while only 3% had a detailed carbon footprint ready for their organisation.
Neil continued: “These are alarming statistics for the industry and highlight how vital it is that we recognise these challenges and continue to inspire manufacturers to pursue initiatives that will benefit both the industry and the environment."
“At MSP, we believe in leading by example. With the knowledge and tools we gained from this training, we are able to proactively work towards more ambitious sustainability initiatives that will benefit our community and the environment, and enable us to steadily progress towards net zero targets.”
As part of the certification, individual and group pledges have been devised to actively reduce carbon footprints, resulting in notable changes, such as team members switching from petrol to electric cars, and increased participation in the company's cycle-to-work scheme.
On a company level, MSP has been making headway in installing solar panels on the factory roof, has installed electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the car park, and helped to foster a conscious shift towards more sustainable food choices amongst employees. MSP has also introduced a dedicated sustainability team to regularly monitor progress and spearhead additional sustainability initiatives.
Neil added: “This process has allowed us to develop sustainability initiatives directly with our employees, encouraging them to get involved as well as providing them with the opportunity to upskill their own knowledge around sustainable practices. Now as a team, we are dedicated to making continuous progress and improvement.”
Neil firmly believes that MSP can lead the way as an example of how manufacturers can effectively introduce and uphold sustainable initiatives and stresses the transformative impact this can have on the future of the industry.
He said: “It is more important than ever to ensure that as a sector we are not overlooking or neglecting sustainable practices. Sustainability projects play a crucial role in their contributions, helping not only to mitigate the industry’s impact on the environment, but also creating a cycle of benefits that extend to our workforce and our local communities.”
“I believe that by continuing to share our experiences, best practices and learnings, we can help inspire more manufacturers to adopt sustainability as part of their culture, and look to drive industry progression towards a more resilient and sustainable future in an increasingly conscious market.”
