our roadmap to net zero
Transitioning to Net Zero is now imperative, and to meet the Scottish Government’s 2045 Net Zero target, a rapid transformation across all sectors of our economy and society is required.
As an organisation managing 21 repurposed buildings and supporting over 1000 tenants, Wasps is home to Scotland’s largest creative community.
Responding to the climate crisis is therefore essential to help future-proof our built assets and creative community against climate related risks and ensure the longevity of our estate and livelihoods.
We recognise our environmental impact and responsibility to decarbonise the organisation, so we have developed a net zero strategy which you can find on this webpage.
Our core aims are:
- To contribute to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement to be net zero-carbon by 2045 by setting measurable net zero targets
- To reliably monitor, measure, report and reduce our environmental footprint across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions
- To decarbonise our buildings by switching to green energy sources and reducing operational energy use across the estate
- To embed circular economy principles across all our operations: to reduce waste and keep products and materials in circulation for longer by prioritising sharing, reusing and repairing resources before buying anything new
- To work with stakeholders, suppliers and tenants to drive change across the value chain
- To minimise the financial impact on our tenants by ensuring measures are proportionate and best value
- To take a collaborative, inclusive and creative approach to sustainability
our six priority themes
As members of Creative Carbon Scotland’s Green Arts Initiative, this plan has been informed by a holistic approach to sustainability, that accounts for social and environmental factors beyond carbon accounting alone.
Wasps recognises that Net Zero strategies need to go beyond neutralising the impacts of climate change by 2045 and continually add more value to and regenerate the systems from which we extract.
This has guided the grouping of actions under the key themes in this plan, which are:
- Energy in Buildings
- Circular Procurement
- Travel
- Offices & Digital
- Partnerships & Programming
- Sustainable Communities
our emissions and priorities
The bulk of our emissions are tied up in legacy energy systems and aged buildings which are in need of fabric upgrades.
Tackling these works first – with an emphasis on prioritising energy efficiency across our 5 highest emitting and largest buildings – helps to strategically address most of our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions ahead of our near-term 2032 target.
energy in buildings
We are working to maximise energy efficiency and decarbonise buildings across our estate.
Wasps is well placed to support the transition to a more circular economy by transforming at-risk existing buildings into art facilities; by redeveloping buildings rather than demolishing them and building new, we are making significant embodied energy and material savings.
Despite this, we are aware that upgrading and managing a portfolio of 21 buildings accounts for a significant portion of our environmental footprint, so energy in buildings is at the core of our Net Zero plan.
circular procurement
We will work with stakeholders, suppliers and tenants to drive change across the value chain.
Evaluating our supply chain and engaging with our suppliers is essential as we move towards measuring more of our Scope 3 emissions.
The creation of our Circular Procurement Guidelines in 2024 means Wasps will use our purchasing power to maximise our positive impact (ecological, social, economic) through careful consideration of our products and suppliers.
travel
We will work to reduce our travel footprint by supporting sustainable travel for employee commuting, business travel and visitors alike.
We are working with colleagues, event organisers and the wider Wasps community to record, monitor and reduce carbon emissions from travel.
We will encourage sustainable transport options through the provision of infrastructure, policy and promotion and aim to achieve Net Zero emissions from business travel by 2045.
offices and digital
We are committed to minimising the physical and digital footprint of our office and marketing operations.
Integrating digital sustainability into our business operations and strategy is a key step towards more holistically measuring and reducing our carbon footprint. We have therefore been exploring ways to identify and monitor our digital activity.
partnerships and programming
We are committed to ensuring a just and inclusive transition to a net zero future.
Beyond our own direct emissions, as a buildings-based cultural organisation, we have the potential to contribute to Scotland’s wider net-zero target through influencing across our networks.
As members of the Green Arts Initiative, Wasps are working within Creative Carbon Scotland’s network to collaborate with other arts and cultural organisations to better understand the role we can play in decarbonisation.
sustainable communities
We are committed to ensuring a just and inclusive transition to a Net Zero future.
A just transition to Net Zero needs to go beyond carbon accounting alone and needs to look to achieving equitable outcomes for everyone whilst enhancing broader environmental sustainability.
Adapting our buildings for a changing climate requires taking a holistic approach to place; buildings cannot be viewed in isolation without the surrounding communities and ecologies.
