RJ Lifts Group is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, in line with the government target. 

Net zero targets represent a crucial milestone in humanity’s ongoing battle against climate change. These ambitious commitments signal a collective determination to curb greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the devastating impacts of global warming. By striving for net zero, nations, businesses, and individuals pledge to balance their carbon emissions with measures that remove or offset an equivalent amount of carbon from the atmosphere. This transformative shift involves transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, reimagining transportation, and adopting sustainable practices across various sectors. Net zero targets are not just about R J Lifts Group reducing emissions; they embody a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient future, where economic prosperity coexists with environmental stewardship. 

R J Lifts Group are currently working to develop a full implementation plan which will allow us to bring this target forward. All emissions reported and planned for the future include the entities under RJ Lifts Group operational control (RJ Lifts Group Limited). 

Baseline Footprint Year: To December 31st 2022

Additional Details relating to the Baseline Emissions calculations. 

RJ Lifts Group began collecting emissions data in accordance with the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirement for the year ending 31 December 2022. In accordance with these requirements, we have Scope 1 and 2 emissions for one reporting year and have used these as our baseline. 

Full Scope 3 data has not been collected or reported for 2022 as this was not available under existing monitoring processes, but as per reporting guidance, vehicle emissions have been included in Scope 1 calculations. Data has been gathered from the vehicle using tracking software that RJ Lifts currently utilise.

We are in the process of gathering Scope 3 emissions data to establish a clear baseline and will include this in our report for the current year, ending 31 December 2023. 

We have identified the methodology that we need to use to calculate each Scope 3 category and the data that we need to gather for each category required. We will base calculations on actual data as far as possible rather than average data methods to ensure we have a more accurate calculation.

We will use data for the year ending 31 December 2022 as a baseline for Scope 1 and 2 but as our operations were affected by organisational changes completed late 2022 and early 2023, we intend to recalculate our baseline emissions to reflect a full year of our usual operations, including the required Scope 3 categories of emissions.

Categories 5 (waste generated in operations), 6 (business travel), 7 (employee commuting) and 9 (downstream transportation and distribution) have been included in our scope 3 calculations. Category 4 (upstream transportation and distribution) has been excluded as the data is not available at this time. We will work with the procurement team at R J Lifts Group to consider whether category 4 emissions could be captured through changes in process and cost allocation software. 

Emissions reduction targets

To continue our progress to achieving Net Zero, we have adopted the following carbon reduction targets.

• We will reduce our carbon emissions from Scope 1 and 2 emissions to achieve NetZero by 2050 and will put in place interim targets (KPI’s) to ensure sufficient progress is made. 
• Whilst we are working towards a net zero target, we anticipate seeing an increase in our reported carbon emissions from our base year to the current year. This however, is not a true representation of the impact of our carbon reduction projects and is a result of having been able to, capture data for emission sources, where gaps had previously been identified, and company restructuring. Consequently, with the additional emission sources we are unable to report progress against our base year on a like for like basis.

Following a investigative approach  into emission sources we have identified that there are some gaps in our reportable scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Scope 1 emissions have previously been reported as an average total, however we have since identified some potential sources of data collection.

Likewise, for scope 2 emissions we need to confirm operational control/reporting responsibilities to ensure that there is no double counting in this area. We are aiming to get these issues resolved by Jan’24 .

With a greater understanding of our emission sources, new mechanisms in place to capture additional data, and a recent restructuring it is recognised that we will need to recalculate our baseline so that we can demonstrate progress on a like for like basis. The intention is to use the reporting year to December’23 as the revised baseline. 

As part of the review of our carbon emissions we will also be considering our target date for achieving NetZero from 2050 and exploring possibilities to bring this forward. 

To ensure that we are progressing to plan interim key performance indicators will be established.

Carbon Reduction Projects

R J Lifts Group over previous years has always strived to implement Carbon The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented since the 2022 baseline. Whilst we understand these projects have led to a reduction in carbon emissions, we are unable to quantify the extent as we no longer have a like for like scenario. Re-baselining in 2023 will enable us to quantify the measures in effect when performing the contract.

Completed Carbon Reduction Initiatives

The following environmental management measures and projects have been completed or implemented. 

• Appointed a Head of Environmental Sustainability to lead this area.  
• Launched an Environmental Policy which outlines our commitment to minimising the negative environmental impact of our activities. We also share our commitments through our wider Corporate Social Responsibility statement on our website. 
• Initiated the internal Net Zero project. This included gathering data to inform our baseline scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions and production of a more detailed report focused on scope 3 emissions produced through RJ Lifts Group value chain.
• Consolidated our office and remote storage locations and sought a reduction in footprint to reduce the size of our overall estate. 
• Facilitated the recycling and re-use of 144 items of network hardware since January 2022.
• Advocated for the use of green energy suppliers to storage facilities in which we are a tenant. 
• Placed environmental considerations as a priority for refurbished offices including reusing and recycling furniture. 
• Planted 1000 trees through our Trees for Life partner, to begin to offset carbon emissions from our business travel. 
• Completed an upgrade of the lighting and heating systems within our premises to reduce carbon emissions.
• Provided guidance for our managers (Exploring digital carbon footprints report and Good Practice in IT Sustainability guidance) on understanding the impact of digital carbon footprint and support them in improving their environmental sustainability and plans towards net zero.
• Installed GPS technology and real-time RAC telematics in all vehicles, empowering engineers to attend sites via the most fuel-efficient route to further eliminate CO2 emissions.
• Implementing a programme of weekly vehicle checks, performed by engineers to maximise fuel economy. For example, checking tyre pressure and engine oil. 
• Spending over £300,000 in the preceding three years, upgrading our vehicle fleet to maximise efficiencies. For example:

1. We have replaced all manager’s company cars with fully electric models such as MG 5 EV.
2. 25% of the smaller vans used by engineers and technicians have been replaced with electric vehicles such as Nissan e-NV200.
3. 18% of our fleet has been transitioned to LEV or fully electric vehicles.
4. For clarity, full details of our vehicle fleet demonstrating their efficiency has been included below:

VEHICLE FLEET EFFECIENCY

• Updating our stock management procedures by developing a nationwide chain of stock depots. Storing a range of common parts and components necessary for lift maintenance and repairs, this enables us to reduce distance, mileage and associated emissions relating to engineers travelling to and from depots. Likewise, each engineer is equipped with a van complete with impress stock, further minimising the need to travel to depots and emissions. 
• Updating our staff induction and mandatory training programme, refreshed annually, which now includes a comprehensive annual environmental awareness course, enabling staff to adopt and implement environmental best practice.
• Switching to fully timed heating throughout our head office and local premises. This ensures that heating is only on during working hours and eliminates the possibility of oversight resulting in wasted energy and thereby unnecessary carbon emissions. 
• Refurbishing the lift contained within our office, ensuring lift installations remain compliant with VDI 4707 and ISO 2542-2 standards. 
• Upgraded our whole office with LED ‘green’ energy lighting reducing energy usage and associated emissions. Further, in areas of low foot fall, such as storage rooms, sensors have been fitted to ensure unnecessary lighting is eliminated. 
• Replaced computers used at our head office and service desk with Energy Star Certified Dell OptiPlex 7070 Ultra Desktop computers, which consume significantly less power than typical desktops.
• Installed SMART heating controls in our office which allow us to control the areas in which heat is produced. E.g., we can change the heating temperature in our administration office without heating up storage rooms. 
• Hot water tanks have been fitted with cylinder jackets, reducing heat loss and saving approximately 150Kg of CO2 per year.
• Various practices, in full accordance with the waste hierarchy, have been implemented to reduce the quantities of waste sent to landfill and associated emissions:

1. Elimination: We have eliminated the use of single use plastics during the sourcing of parts and components, collaborating with our supply chain to prioritise the use of reusable pallets and cases. 
2. Re-use: 25% of old components and parts are either donated to collages located in the areas we work within, or transported to our head office, and used to support training and education. For example, parts transported to our head office are used to support engineer inductions and manufacturer training. 

• Recycle: To maintain our 60% waste recycling rate, contract specific waste management plans are developed during the mobilisation phase of each contract we maintain, detailing:

1. Expected waste streams and volumes.
2. The management of each stream, including initiatives to maximise recycling such as separating waste on site, e.g., into plastic, wood, and metal.

• Considerate disposal: Only when all other options are exhausted do we consider outright disposal. In this instance, waste is transported to local approved authorised treatment facilities (AAFT). Each AAFT is selected according to their use of the best available treatment, recovery and recycling techniques (BATRRT), which has enabled us to maximise the quantities of reusable and recyclable materials which are extracted and diverted from landfill. 

Planned Carbon Reduction Initiatives

Over the next 12 months we plan to build on our existing knowledge and understanding by implementing the following projects: 

• Identify gaps in scope 1, 2 and 3 reportable carbon emissions. Establish methodology for capturing any missing data sources and recalculate baseline emissions for 2023.
• Develop a route map for achieving net zero to include:

1. achievable GHG reduction targets that support our members in achieving their targets.
2.  measure and report progress.
3.  identification of cost-effective emission reduction opportunities and commitment to required changes in operations to deliver them.
4. identification and management of climate-related risks to our business
5. identification and utilization of carbon removal schemes (such as tree planting) after full reduction strategies have been applied.

• Set organisation-wide carbon emissions reduction targets supported by interim targets.
• Set product level carbon emissions reduction targets and recommending that these are embedded into performance management goals for department management.
•  Create a decarbonisation plan for all activities to deliver targets.
•  Provide support for the sector in understanding the carbon impact of services.
•  Provide Carbon literacy training to key staff (including account managers, resources controllers and breakdown response teams)
•  continue to maintain membership of Trees for Life and will be exploring how carbon offsetting can be used alongside our carbon reduction initiatives.
•  Continuing internal communications about the importance of the Net Zero project and engaging ways to encourage colleagues to commit to making changes. 
•  Developing research projects which will help support members in the delivery of net zero emissions, i.e. expansion of the environmental focus group.
• Developing an external communications plan, that includes developing website content that highlights how RJ Lifts Group products and services support the delivery of its members net zero goals.
•  In the longer term we will be exploring a range of initiatives including Science Based Targets and Race to Net Zero which will be public statements about our credentials and commitment to achieving Net Zero

More broadly we will be looking to maintain our current certification ISO14001 Environmental Management Systems; and will review operations against the standard to identify any compliance gaps. The environmental focus group will continue to work with procurement to understand how to better embed environmental sustainability in procurement processes and contract terms and conditions; and ensure that our own suppliers are able to demonstrate their commitment to achieving net zero by 2050.

Declaration and Sign Off 

Gareth Williams 

Manging Director 

R J Lifts Group Ltd