Willmott Dixon has announced it is on target to halve its carbon emissions by 2020.

In its 2016 carbon performance figures, the company has achieved a 13% decline in carbon emissions relative to turnover compared with 2015, as well as a 40% reduction compared with the company's baseline year of 2010.

Since 2012, Willmott Dixon has calculated its unavoidable emissions and offset them by purchasing credits in projects which are reducing carbon emissions by an equivalent amount. This has resulted in the company being certified as carbon neutral. Features include purchasing electricity from renewable sources and finding ways to reduce emissions from transport and the construction activities. In addition, the company is also addressing emissions generated by the supply chain that they have influence over (Scope 3 Emissions).


Calling on the construction sector to take further action on reducing carbon emissions, Group Chief Executive Rick Willmott said: "Climate change will have a profound impact on the way of life for future generations, with implications for health, food production and access to resources if we don't curb now the effect of excessive carbon emissions into our atmosphere and the consequence that has for global warming.

"Any company committed to leaving a lasting legacy in the built environment must view carbon management as a key focus area.

"With around half of the UK's carbon emissions coming from the construction and operation of buildings, we must strive to find less carbon-intensive ways to operate as an industry. And this includes getting better at building energy efficient buildings, which will stand up to the more extreme temperatures we can expect in the coming decades."

(LM)