Carbon reduction plan
Our commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050
Supplier name: FCDO Services
Publication date: 30 September 2026
Contents
Our commitment to achieveing Net Zero
Our commitment to achieving Net Zero
FCDO Services is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Greening Government Commitments and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) policy.
Baseline emissions footprint
Baseline year 2017/18
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
| Scope 1 | 105 |
| Scope 2 | 1,270 |
| Scope 3 (included sources) | 79 |
| Total emissions | 1,454 |
Additional details on baseline emissions calculations
Whilst FCDO Services has been reporting emissions data since 2009-10, this Carbon Reduction Plan uses 2017-18 as the baseline. This is because the Greening Government Commitments 2021-25 re-calibrated Government Department reporting to set 2017-18 as the baseline year to more accurately reflect the government estate, and to ensure government builds on the progress it has achieved since 2009-10.rs.
As required by the Greening Government Commitments, FCDO Services only reports emissions data on its UK based operations. It reports Scope 1 (direct energy including Logistics distribution fleet) and 2 (indirect energy) emissions plus some elements of business travel and waste management from Scope 3. FCDO Services shares its sites with its parent department, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and apportions most Scope 1 and 2 emissions on a per capita (staff FTE) basis.
From 2012/13 to 2020/21 FCDO Services’ work with non-FCDO customers was not included in the Greening Government Commitment reported data as the GGC Baseline Panel had deemed that they be exempted from scope. This decision was reversed in 2021 so reporting since 2021-22 has covered all FCDO Services UK based activity whoever the customer. The 2017/18 baseline emissions have been adjusted to include FCDO Services’ delivery for all customers.
Current emissions reporting
Reporting year 2025/26
| Emissions | Total (tCO2e) |
| Scope 1 | 234 |
| Scope 2 | 484 |
| Scope 3 (included sources) | 82 |
| Total emissions | 801 |
Emissions reduction targets
To continue our progress to Net Zero by 2050, we have, as part of the FCDO Departmental footprint, adopted the Greening Government Commitments framework to track our 2025/26 performance. We have used the carbon reduction targets to be achieved by March 2025 (from a 2017/18 baseline year) as a comparison where applicable.
| 2025 target (against 2017/18 baseline) |
2017/18 baseline* |
2025/26* |
Comment on 2024/25 performance |
| Reduce overall reported emissions by 56% |
1,454 tons CO2e |
801 tons CO2e |
Overall emissions have reduced by 45% from 2017/18 and over 20% lower than 2024/25. UK electricity emissions were 68% lower following parent department investment and the introduction of solar to the estate. Good progress has been made but it remains challenging to reduce overall emissions, and we continue to work closely with the FCDO to reduce consumption from our operation. |
| Reduce direct emissions by 30%. Comprises direct Scope 1 emissions from estate and operations (excluding vehicle fleet). |
71 tons CO2e |
49 tons CO2e |
The allocation of direct estate emissions decreased by 31% compared to baseline, primarily from the continued operational changes and works on the UK estate by the FCDO. |
| Reduce domestic flights by 30% |
12 tons CO2e |
4 tons CO2e | Domestic flight emissions decreased by 66% compared to baseline and reduced by 43% from the previous year. We share the FCDO policy of using rail by default for domestic travel, and domestic air travel is only authorized by exception by senior management. Customer project locations can affect our performance, but we are seeing continued reductions resulting from combined approaches to travel policy, using digital technology, and increasing staff awareness through training and internal campaigns. |
| 100% to be fully zero emissions (ZEV) at the tailpipe by end 2027 |
– |
6% |
Our progress to the target has been slower as we keep our vehicles for longer optimising embedded carbon, and any vehicle replacement requires both ZEV and ultra-low emission models to be evaluated against the operational use case. We actively manage and lower our carbon emissions from our UK Fleet by consolidating services, assigning lower emission vehicles to high caseloads, re-allocate vehicles across the operation and prioritise the removal of older, higher emitting vehicles. We are continuing to work towards the ZEV target with FCDO and OZEV through planning, the GFC exemption process, whilst optimising costs. |
| Achieve 70% recycling of overall waste stream |
– |
42% |
We revised our waste reporting in 2025/26 to improve transparency and separated our totals into FCDO Services operational waste, FCDO Services ICT waste, and apportioned waste volumes from shared Facilities Management waste services.
The total weight across all categories was 304 tonnes and our recycling rate was 42%. Due to changes in data collection this is not comparable against the 2017/18 baseline. Our UK office waste and other shared site waste services is apportioned by FTE headcount and in this specific category the recycling rate is 60%. Total weight also reduced by 20%. Our other waste services are impacted by security classification, project activity, and is a service to customers generating revenue. As a result, volumes fluctuate. The recycling rate in these 2 other waste services streams is 37% and we are committed to improving recycling rates with our customers and reducing waste through staff wide initiatives, training, and innovation. |
| Reduce paper consumption by 50% (based on reams A4 equivalent) |
5830 |
788 |
Paper usage decreased by 86% compared to baseline, continuing to achieve the target enabled by digital first initiatives. |
| Reduce water consumption by 8% |
8,432m3 |
5,010m3 |
Our apportioned water usage decreased by 40% compared to the baseline. |
| Report international (passenger) flights. No target set under GGC but aim to reduce. |
4557 |
5240 |
We have developed more robust reporting, and international travel is required to meet global customer demand. We do seek to reduce our international flights through project aggregation, modal shift and utilising our in-region staff to minimise travel where we can. |
*tons CO2e (unless otherwise stated)
Carbon reduction initiatives
FCDO Services is a Trading Fund of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is part of their departmental footprint under the Greening Government Commitments Framework. We operate under FCDO’s ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System (certification renewed in 2023). FCDO Services has policies and processes to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, assess environmental impact and risks and regularly monitors environmental performance. An organisation specific Environmental Policy Statement covers all FCDO Services employees, contractors, suppliers, and partners.
FCDO Services sources and sells with integrity through an ethical, sustainable supply chain which delivers as efficiently as possible. We respect the interests of customers, staff, and stakeholders and continuously strive to improve and increase our environmental and social sustainability.
Sustainability vision
FCDO Services’ vision is to be ‘secure, safe and sustainable’ in everything we do supporting our customers in diplomacy, defence, and development. Sustainability delivers a range of strategic benefits, driving efficiency, and encouraging upskilling and innovation, and creating new business opportunities. We continue to drive closer collaboration between organisational efficiency, continuous improvement, and sustainability.
Sustainability governance
Our Chief of Operations holds the role of Chief Sustainability Officer, championing the topic at Board level where our sustainability performance is regularly reviewed and principal risks are monitored by the Executive and FCDO Services Main Board. The Environment & Sustainability Committee chaired by the Head of Health, Safety, Environment & Quality, and supported by the Head of Environment & Sustainability manages further internal measures and key performance indicators to improve sustainability outcomes, reduce emissions, share best practice across groups and manage risks.
To further embed sustainability, we have additional management structures which include the Investment Committee which oversees all internal investment decisions. The Head of Environment and Sustainability is a member of the Committee and evaluates all submissions and provides advice. The Operational Life-Cycle sub-Committee considers environmental criteria to assess products and services supporting our customer and commercial focus and in preparation for FY2026-27, we recently introduced an Environment and Sustainability project management framework to help staff identify and discuss sustainability and climate impacts across our project delivery, and to navigate standards and regulations. We aim to develop further through continuous improvement.
Energy
The bulk of FCDO Services’ emissions reported under the Greening Government Commitments are from direct fuel use, electricity consumption, and international flights. Emissions from energy utilisation are being reduced through a combination of on-site renewable energy generation, energy efficiency measures, and the heating of the Hanslope Park site with biodiesel from waste and second-generation oils as well as low sulphur fuel oil.
Logistics
International flights are crucial to FCDO Services global business model and our response to customer needs. We continue to work with customers and suppliers to reduce our flight footprint by revising policies, and innovative approaches including regional project aggregation, virtualisation/remote delivery, flight schedule optimisation, and modal shift from air to surface routes. Our Logistics arm has introduced a freight carbon calculator estimator tool to support stakeholder decision-making, offering different transportation options with related emissions using the published carbon emission factors from the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The Logistics Unclassified Diplomatic Bag Service has reduced carbon emissions by 11.6% this year on current volumes. We endeavour to reduce costs, carbon emissions and minimise waste combining improvements in load consolidation, effective planning, and continued development in sustainable packaging.
FCDO Services’ fleet is critical to its UK and global operation. The organisation is committed to reducing the footprint of its HGV, van, and car fleet. Vehicles under 3.5 tons are subject to a phased replacement with vehicles meeting at least a ULEV standard which emit less than 50g CO2e/km, if not zero-emissions. The Fleet is actively managed, and transition plans are underway including older trucks being replaced with at least Euro VI compliant vehicles and transitioning to electric forklift trucks.
Procurement
We recognise the importance of the supply chain and procurement to deliver more sustainable outcomes. FCDO Services has focused on strengthening our internal processes and supporting structures as an enabler. We are compliant with the Procurement Act, Public Procurement regulations, policies and Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs), which includes PPN002 Taking account of social value in the award of contracts, and PPN 006 Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts. We meet our environmental obligations and consider appropriate and proportionate sustainability measures within our contracts and are committed to making opportunities accessible to a broader range of suppliers including SMEs. Our procurement team hold the CIPS Corporate Ethics certification, and we apply best in practice and undertake the Commercial Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework (GovS008).
We are committed to embedding the Government Buying Standards and we use applicable Crown Commercial Service frameworks, and our timber is purchased in line with the Timber Procurement Policy. We assess sustainability features of product specifications and service delivery through our innovation initiatives and internal investment programmes to set our direction. By engaging with our suppliers, we encourage footprint reduction and increase our re-use and circularity through continuous improvement.
Information technology
FCDO Services remains committed to being digital and providing scalable and flexible solutions for the FCDO and HMG customers. We have made progress by enhancing our digital foundations, simplifying, and streamlining processes and services to facilitate reductions in energy consumption of our general operations. We have laid the building blocks for our transition to public cloud in FY26/27, where we aim to see closer alignment to the Greening Government Commitments, Cloud-First policy, and reduction of carbon-heavy on-premise technologies. As technology continues to accelerate, so does our strategy and desire to improve the sustainability of our digital assets and innovative technology solutions.
We optimise digital resources to minimise waste and design with energy efficiency and right-sizing. Sustainability is part of our governed design documentation and technical governance. We continue to maximise the lifespan of our IT assets, and the re-use of equipment is widely encouraged. Our waste ICT adheres to WEEE regulations, and our disposal policy is consistent with National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) guidelines with plastics shredding and extraction of rare minerals.
Waste
Waste comes in all forms, and we challenge our staff to be innovative to find ways to eliminate and minimise waste including through efficiency and productivity gains. Through process improvement, we have increased the number of times we use our cotton-based Diplomatic Bags before sending to the laundry service provided by HM Prison and Young Offenders Institute Bullingdon in Oxfordshire. These adjustments have reduced our laundry volumes by 11% to 15,183 bags being washed this year.
We work collaboratively to find ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions with suppliers and through our internal innovation process. We encourage changes in design and materials to promote resource efficiency and improvements in our environmental performance.
We maintain focus on the footprint of our logistics packaging and have fully transitioned to packing paper and biodegradable packing peanuts and use fully recyclable document wallets and tape. We trial lighter and more sustainable products working collaboratively with our suppliers to ensure ease of recycling and reuse at destinations. Our internal store and stock procedures continue to evolve to support efficiency and waste initiatives. With a focus on more sustainable products and enhanced return and re-use policies, we are endeavouring to make sustainability more achievable for our staff and customers.
We have increased our use of 100% recyclable robust, honeycomb-structure, cardboard boxes and continue to manufacture bespoke timber shipping crates to minimise weight, volume, and shipping costs. We shred a significant amount of our cardboard waste to re-use as padding and our waste timber is either sold with proceeds going to charity, donated to community projects or recycled.
Fuller detail of FCDO Services’ sustainability performance is contained in its Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26.
Declaration and sign off
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 006 and associated guidance and reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans.
Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard and uses the appropriate Government emission conversion factors for greenhouse gas company reporting.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions have been reported in accordance with SECR requirements, and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions have been reported in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Standard.
This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the Executive Board.
Signed on behalf of the Supplier: Mike Astell, Chief Executive Officer
Date: 24 September 2026