For the fourth consecutive year, we have demonstrated our climate commitment by having our business emissions measured and independently verified.

The business was just a year old the first time we had our carbon footprint calculated by Pilio Group. For years two and three, we used Planet Mark certification. For our fourth year, 2023, we decided to use a new provider – Inhabit.

For full transparency, the decision to switch provider was based on a combination of price – as we wanted to broaden our emissions boundary to include Scope 3 purchased goods and services for the first time this year, and a wider support package – and also strategic alignment with Inhabit, which has agency-specific and built environment sector experience. (They also provide building assessments including BREEAM, WELL and FITWEL.)

A more comprehensive picture of our emissions

Unsurprisingly, now that we have added our Scope 3 purchased goods and services, the biggest change for our 2023 reporting period has been our headline figure itself: a total carbon footprint of 15.84 tCO2e. This is equivalent to 3.22 tCO2e per employee – approximately 28% lower than comparable companies.

We weren’t shocked to see that purchased goods and services were responsible for 10.61 tCO2e – or 67% of our total emissions. This category is notoriously difficult to measure and reduce, but we felt it was important to include it to give a more accurate picture of our total impact.

Most importantly, in calculating our purchased goods and services for the first time, we have increased our understanding of the emissions for which the business is responsible and we can now devise more impactful reduction strategies as a result.

Aiming for net zero

Having now identified and measured the most significant emissions hotspots for the business, we are now well positioned to develop targeted reduction strategies to reduce our impact.

Thanks to Inhabit’s invaluable support and guidance, we’re confident that this work brings us in line with industry leaders and reflects the culmination of years of environmental stewardship through measuring our own emissions while also seeking to advance sustainability in the built environment.

Our next big task will be embarking on a supplier assessment to increase the accuracy of reported emissions while identifying risks and opportunities to our overall carbon footprint. We know that addressing this hotspot will provide us with the confidence to set ambitious, yet realistic, carbon reduction targets with the ultimate aim of making Avery & Brown a net-zero business.

"It’s wonderful to see a business like Avery & Brown make significant strides to understand and address its climate impact.

Despite having a small operational size, they have committed to mapping their emissions for several years now, notably expanding the scope of their calculation in 2023 to include Scope 3 purchased goods and services.

By capturing all relevant emissions sources and having it independently verified, Avery & Brown is now able to implement effective reduction strategies and position itself as a climate leader."

– Ed Bale, Net Zero Strategist, Inhabit

Thank yous

I’d like to thank the whole Inhabit team for their first-class support, especially our dedicated strategist, Ed Bale, who made everything extremely straightforward and stress-free for us. Thanks for all the help, Ed!

I’d also like to thank our own Tilly Loader, who stepped up to the plate this year to learn something completely new, and who managed the process for us internally. Great work, Tills!

"Taking on the task of measuring our emissions has been a great experience, marking the start of my involvement in our #OperationRegeneration strategy.

Not only has this been a great opportunity for my personal development, but it has also been a valuable up-skilling to help A&B continue with future emissions monitoring and reporting.

Working with Inhabit made the process really easy considering this is the first time I've done anything like it. They were really helpful, always quickly and clearly answering any questions I had, and the platform was really simple to understand."

– Tilly Loader, Designer, Avery & Brown

Our 2023 Annual Carbon Report

To read our full report, please click the image or the black button below.

About Avery & Brown

Avery & Brown is an award-winning brand strategy and marketing agency, and a Certified B Corporation. With a focus on sustainability, our purpose is to inspire others to be a force for good. Our core clients include purpose-driven B2B companies in the built environment and renewable energy technology sectors. For further information, please visit: www.averyandbrown.com.

About Inhabit

Inhabit's mission is clear: to help businesses thrive sustainably. From strategy to implementation, we're your go-to team for carbon tracking, operational net zero, institutional accreditation, ESG reporting, asset performance rating and improvement planning. With a portfolio spanning industries, we empower change for businesses of all shapes and sizes. For further information, please visit: www.inhabit.eco.

Download our Inhabit 2023 Annual Carbon Report here.