Environment, Social and Governance (ESG)

Avantis Education acknowledges its significant impact on stakeholders and strives to minimize negative effects while promoting positive behavioural change. The organization is committed to ESG, notably becoming Net Zero by 2040, starting with offsetting our carbon emissions annually to eliminate our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.

As an executive in the education industry, I am proud to endorse Avantis Education’s Net Zero target and calculation.

Our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK government’s target, demonstrates our dedication to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. We are a company that specialises in providing personalised learning solutions, and by taking this first step, as well as offsetting our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, we at Avantis Education are setting a positive example for the next generation by prioritizing environmental responsibility.

I am confident that Avantis Education’s commitment to sustainability will inspire the very students we exist for, and other companies in the education industry to take similar action so that together, we can work towards a more sustainable future for all.

Huw Williams
CEO

Avantis Education acknowledges that we have a significant impact on our staff, clients, the environment, suppliers, and communities we operate within, and therefore an important role to play in reducing any negative impact and positively affecting behavioural change.

We recognise that our focus should be on reducing carbon emissions. We have ambitious plans to be Net Zero by 2040 and to track our progress, we recalculate our carbon emissions annually. Having received our first carbon calculation in 2022, we annually offset the residual Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions we generate to eliminate them completely.

We are determined to do all we can to mitigate, reduce and affect change inwards and outwards. Alongside the desire and energy of our passionate staff, we work with a leading ESG consultancy firm to advise us and identify opportunities to improve our ESG performance.

WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE OUR 2024 ESG REPORT

In our 2024 ESG Highlights Report, we proudly present the milestones we've achieved in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance. This report demonstrates our ongoing commitment to making a positive and sustainable impact on our communities, our people, and the planet. It marks just one of many steps we're taking to foster a better future through innovation, accountability, and purpose-driven action.

Fighting Climate Change

Carbon emissions are the leading cause of global warming and hence climate change. We engaged external carbon advisors to guide us on our Net Zero journey to learn where most of our emissions are being generated. What we did:

We created our emissions inventory – which includes Scope 3 categories and the calculation methodology.

We included the following Scope 3 categories:

  • Category 1: Purchased goods & services
  • Category 3: Fuel & energy-related activities
  • Category 4: Upstream transport & distribution
  • Category 5: Waste
  • Category 6: Business travel
  • Category 7: Employee commuting and employee WFH
  • Category 9: Downstream transport & distribution

We now have an accurate baseline carbon emission calculation, and we have a reduction plan and milestones in place. We are aiming to reduce our overall emissions by 32% by 2030, and 71% by 2040.

Designed and created by Sustainable Advantage

WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR NET ZERO TARGET IS 2040.

By that date, we will have reduced our Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions as much as possible, and will offset the remaining emissions.

We recognise that our focus should be on reducing carbon emissions. To track our progress against our yearly reduction plan we will recalculate our carbon emissions annually. Having received our first carbon calculation, we decided to offset the residual Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions we generated in 2022 to eliminate them completely. The credits for which we offset our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are from high-quality Verra- accredited carbon removal projects.

We are a Carbon Neutral company.

Our Carbon Removal Programmes

Kariba REDD+ Forest Protection Zimbabwe (2022)

Since its launch in 2011, the Kariba Project has protected nearly 785,000 hectares of forests and wildlife on the southern shores of Lake Kariba, near the Zimbabwe-Zambia border from deforestation and land degradation. It prevents more than 3.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere every year. The project continues to support regional sustainable development and the independence and wellbeing of local communities.

Brascarbon Methane Recovery Project Brazil (2022)

Methane emissions from meat production for human consumption are a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions and hence climate change. A number of innovative methane recovery projects have been formally approved in Brazil. The project we have supported involved the construction of a new covered in-ground anaerobic reactor (digester) that will utilize the organic material currently treated in the wastewater-opened lagoon, of the confined animal operations, to produce biogas, significantly reducing the amount of methane that would otherwise have been produced.

Maísa REDD+ (2023)

This project safeguards a region of the Brazilian Amazon at risk from deforestation. The region is home to more than 450 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. By increasing the economic worth of the intact forest and bolstering surveillance efforts, it aims to preserve this vital habitat and improve the living conditions of local inhabitants.

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) adopted a plan to achieve a better future for all, identifying 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve this objective. For businesses, these goals provide an important roadmap for how to positively impact society, and they have achieved a high level of acceptance around the world. We recognise the importance of contributing to a sustainable future and will be ensuring that our actions are aligned with global efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Environment

We are deeply committed to protecting the planet, and we have taken a number of steps to reduce our environmental footprint, including:

  • Opting for renewable electricity and adopting efficiency-saving technology to drive down our energy impacts.
  • Following the waste hierarchy to reduce our waste to landfill and reuse and recycle where possible.
  • Focusing on reducing our carbon footprint by following a Net Zero glidepath and reducing upstream and downstream supply chain emissions where possible.
  • Reviewing packaging practices with our suppliers to identify potential collaboration opportunities that would improve our packaging credentials and align with our Net Zero goals.
  • We believe that small changes in our practices can make a big difference, and we are committed to doing everything we can to reduce our environmental impact. We also integrate sustainability into our curricula and educational software to influence our customers’ sustainable performance.

Social Responsibility

We recognise that we have a responsibility not only to take care of our own employees and the communities in which we operate but also to ensure that our suppliers and business partners are compliant with all laws and regulations. We are committed to:

  • Providing a challenging, dynamic, inclusive, and diverse work environment that supports ongoing professional development for our employees.
  • Promoting a good work-life balance by prioritising the health and wellness of our employees through the introduction of flexible, and hybrid working across the business.
  • Engaging our suppliers on ESG, including the use of a supplier ESG code of conduct, ESG Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, ESG audit, and development of Tier 1 supplier transparency while preserving and promoting the protection of human rights and welfare within our supply chain.

Governance

We understand the importance of good governance to ensure a strong and sturdy foundation for our kingdom. We believe in effective policies and corporate reporting, which form the cornerstone of our sound governance and part of our commitment to ESG. We prioritise:

  • Strong oversight, transparency, and risk management at all levels of our organisation, managed by a diverse committee who have different roles associated with our ESG targets.
  • Establishing clear and effective ESG governance with well-defined goals, accountability, and metrics to measure performance and set expectations and targets.
  • Our Board and senior leadership team driving our ESG initiative, monitoring progress against ESG commitments and reporting on the company’s performance.
  • Providing a suitable mechanism for whistleblowing where employees and external parties can report anonymously to promote transparency and accountability throughout our organisation.

ESG Integration

We believe that success is not just about the bottom line, but also about doing what is right for the environment and society. We have established clear metrics and accountability measures to ensure that we continue to make progress towards our ESG goals. Our Board and senior leadership team drive this initiative, regularly monitoring progress against ESG commitments and reporting on the company’s performance.

Avantis Education is poised for continued success while staying true to our commitment to ESG and sustainability.

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