Climate Change Data

Assura plc

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020-2021, 2021-03 to 2022-03, 2022, 2023, 2023-03 to 2024-03)

Reporting Period: 2020-2021

Environmental Metrics

Renewable Energy Share:100% (for energy purchased on behalf of customers)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Social Impact
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • All development completions in 2020-21 rated BREEAM Very Good or Excellent and met EPC targets of B and above.
  • 100% renewably sourced energy mandated for energy purchase contract.

Social Achievements

  • Launched Assura Community Fund with initial funding of £2.5 million, distributing £800,000 in the first year.
  • Launched a 10-year £300 million Social Bond.

Governance Achievements

  • Established a Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) to oversee sustainable finance initiatives.
  • Appointed ISS-ESG for external review of the Sustainable Finance Framework.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Produce the first net-zero carbon medical center in the UK by 2026, and make it standard for all developments by 2026.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Benefit six million people through improvements and access to buildings by 2026 (SixBySix strategy).
Short-term Goals:
  • Achieve EPC rating of B or better across portfolio by 2026.

Environmental Challenges

  • Reducing energy consumption in existing buildings.
  • Achieving net-zero carbon emissions for new developments.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Targeting an EPC rating of B or better across the portfolio by 2026.
  • Developing plans to ensure compliance with TCFD from March 2022.
  • Goal to produce the first net-zero carbon medical center in the UK by 2026, and make it standard for all developments by 2026.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Working with partners, subcontractors, and suppliers to promote good environmental management.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: ICMA Green Bond Principles (GBP) 2021, Social Bond Principles (SBP) 2021, Sustainability Bond Guidelines (SBG) 2021

Certifications: ISO 14001:2004, BREEAM Very Good or Excellent

Third-party Assurance: ISS-ESG (Second-Party Opinion), Independent third party (Post-issuance verification)

Reporting Period: 2021-03 to 2022-03

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:69.7 mt CO2e (2022); 67.9 mt CO2e (2021)
Scope 1 Emissions:52.2 mt CO2e (2022); 52.3 mt CO2e (2021)
Scope 2 Emissions:17.5 mt CO2e (2022); 15.6 mt CO2e (2021)
Scope 3 Emissions:2,584 mt CO2e (2022); 2,417 mt CO2e (2021)
Renewable Energy Share:100% for electricity purchased on behalf of tenants
Water Consumption:37,417 m3 (2022); 33,799 m3 (2021)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Social Impact
  • Sustainability
  • Net Zero Carbon
  • Environmental Performance
  • Employee Wellbeing
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Environmental Achievements

  • Completed LED improvement pilot project across 42 properties.
  • All developments completed met BREEAM targets of “Very Good” or better.
  • 42 buildings improved to EPC B through LED capital works programme.
  • All electricity purchased for tenants is 100% renewably sourced.

Social Achievements

  • Impacted over 694,000 people through various initiatives (SixBySix pledges).
  • Distributed over £550,000 via the Assura Community Fund to over 115 health-improving projects.
  • Implemented new employee wellbeing and engagement app, Yoomi.
  • Joined the Social Mobility Pledge and achieved Disability Confident Committed Level 1 employer.

Governance Achievements

  • Annual review of environmental policy by the Board.
  • Maintains ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification.
  • Regular reporting to the Executive Committee and the Board on sustainability progress.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero carbon portfolio by 2040.
Medium-term Goals:
  • All properties to have an EPC rating of B by 2026.
  • Achieve SixBySix pledges by 2026.
Short-term Goals:
  • 50% of portfolio at EPC B rating by March 2023.
  • Complete net zero carbon audits on 50 existing buildings.

Environmental Challenges

  • Improving EPC ratings across the portfolio (targeting B rating by 2026).
  • Reducing energy consumed in buildings.
  • Achieving net zero carbon across the portfolio by 2040.
  • Improving energy data coverage across the portfolio.
Mitigation Strategies
  • EPC improvement works costed into all acquisition decisions.
  • Accelerating rollout of EPC improvement works.
  • Rollout of Net Zero Carbon Design Guide.
  • Commissioning net zero carbon audits on 50 existing buildings.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Inclusion of social impact and sustainability criteria in purchase contracts.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 & 11), EPRA Sustainability Best Practice Recommendations

Certifications: ISO 14001

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SixBySix pledges align with these SDGs.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Net Zero Carbon Design Guide

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

Renewable Energy Share:100% (electricity purchased on behalf of tenants)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Social Impact
  • Sustainability
  • Environmental Impact
  • Net Zero

Environmental Achievements

  • 42 buildings with improved energy efficiency through LED pilot project
  • All electricity purchased on behalf of tenants is 100% renewably sourced

Social Achievements

  • Over £550,000 distributed via the Assura Community Fund to more than 115 health-improving projects, impacting over 116,000 people
  • Social Mobility pledge launched, now a Disability Confident Committed Level 1 employer
  • Opportunities offered with four interns and five work experience students

Governance Achievements

  • Overall responsibility for progress against SixBySix targets rests with the CEO
  • Progress overseen by the Social Impact and Sustainability Steering Group, reporting to the Executive Committee and the Board

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero across our portfolio by 2040
Medium-term Goals:
  • Six million people will benefit from improvements to or through our buildings by 2026
Short-term Goals:
  • 50% of portfolio with EPC rating of B or better by March 2023
  • Distribute a further £550,000 through the third year of the grant programme

Environmental Challenges

  • Lack of energy data access for a portion of the portfolio
  • Need to accelerate the rollout of EPC improvement works
Mitigation Strategies
  • Improving the proportion of the portfolio with access to energy data
  • Accelerating rollout of EPC improvement works, targeting 50% EPC B or better by March 2023

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Inclusion of social impact and sustainability criteria into scoring matrix for LED pilot projects

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UN Sustainable Development Goals

Reporting Period: 2023

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:75.9 mt CO2e (operational control)
Scope 1 Emissions:27.4 mt CO2e (operational control)
Scope 2 Emissions:19.5 mt CO2e (operational control)
Scope 3 Emissions:29.0 mt CO2e (operational control)
Renewable Energy Share:83% (electricity purchased on behalf of tenants)
Carbon Intensity:30 kgCO2e/m2 (portfolio)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Net Zero Carbon
  • Social Impact
  • Sustainability
  • Community Engagement
  • Employee Wellbeing
  • Supply Chain Sustainability
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Environmental Achievements

  • Moved on site with first net zero carbon development at Fareham
  • All completed developments achieved BREEAM targets of “Very Good” or better
  • Improved EPC rating of 25 buildings to B, with 53% of portfolio now rated B or better
  • Collected energy data on 55% of portfolio and completed net zero carbon audits on 15%
  • Launched Net Zero Carbon Pathway with Paris-Proof energy reduction targets
  • All electricity purchased on behalf of tenants is 100% renewably sourced

Social Achievements

  • Assura Community Fund distributed over £469,000 to 74 projects
  • Developed bespoke social impact plans for seven on-site developments
  • Implemented sustainability and social impact criteria into partner selection for development supply chain
  • Launched Designing for Everyone toolkit to improve building accessibility for people with disabilities
  • Over 500 hours of employee volunteering completed

Governance Achievements

  • ESG policy reviewed annually by the Board
  • Maintains ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification
  • Incorporated social impact and sustainability criteria into supplier selection processes

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Net zero carbon across the portfolio by 2040
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve EPC rating of B across the portfolio by 2026
  • All in-house developments to meet Net Zero Carbon Design Guide standards by 2026
Short-term Goals:
  • Improve EPC ratings to B for 65% of portfolio by March 2024
  • Roll out occupier engagement initiatives to reduce energy consumption
  • Increase proportion of on-site developments using Net Zero Carbon Design Guide

Environmental Challenges

  • Understanding and reducing energy consumed in buildings by occupiers
  • Collecting energy data from the entire portfolio
  • Achieving net zero carbon across the portfolio by 2040
  • Maintaining high employee engagement in a hybrid work environment
Mitigation Strategies
  • Completed net zero carbon audits on 15% of portfolio and created science-based reduction targets
  • Developed Net Zero Carbon Pathway
  • Engaging with tenants to identify energy-saving opportunities
  • Implementing EPC improvement works
  • Implementing a new People Strategy focusing on Culture & Engagement, Wellbeing and Leadership & Development
  • Utilizing Emotie app for wellbeing and engagement

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: All suppliers are Safe Contractor verified

Responsible Procurement
  • Adherence to Modern Slavery, Human Rights, Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policies
  • Incorporation of social impact and sustainability criteria into supplier selection

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products and services

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GHGP, EPRA Best Practice Recommendations, UK Green Building Council guidance, SBTi (seeking verification)

Certifications: ISO 14001, BREEAM (Very Good or Excellent)

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Net zero carbon developments
  • Air source heat pumps

Reporting Period: 2023-03 to 2024-03

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:21,484 mt CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:115,272,093 kWh
Renewable Energy Share:82% (electricity from renewable sources)
Total Energy Consumption:115,272,093 kWh
Water Consumption:38,592 m3 (tenant purchased)
Carbon Intensity:29 kg CO2e/m² (Scope 3)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Healthy Environment
  • Healthy Communities
  • Healthy Business

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced energy consumption by 1.9 million kWh per year
  • Portfolio now 66% EPC B or better
  • Moved on site two additional net zero carbon developments

Social Achievements

  • Assura Community Fund distributed more than £2m to 250 health-improving projects
  • Generated £3.40 of social value for each £1 invested
  • Completed over 700 hours of volunteering with VCSE groups

Governance Achievements

  • ESG policy reviewed annually by the Board
  • Maintains ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification
  • Regular reporting to both the Executive Committee and the Board-level ESG Committee

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve net zero carbon portfolio by 2040
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve net zero carbon portfolio by 2040
Short-term Goals:
  • All on-site developments using Net Zero Carbon Design Guide by 2025
  • Utilize sustainability initiatives on all asset enhancement and regear opportunities by 2025
  • Begin rollout of commercial photovoltaic solution on properties by 2025

Environmental Challenges

  • Rising cost of utilities and the impact of inflation
  • Costs of running and maintaining buildings in an ever-changing climate
  • Challenges of moving into a new building
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implementing energy efficient building upgrades aiming for net zero carbon by March 2025
  • Phasing schemes and planning work carefully around operations to minimize disruption
  • Working with suppliers to find innovative solutions that meet the needs of customers

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: All suppliers are Safe Contractor verified

Responsible Procurement
  • ESG considerations incorporated into supplier selection processes
  • Requirement for suppliers to adhere to policies on Modern Slavery, Anti-Bribery and Corruption

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities
  • Development of energy-efficient products

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: EPRA Sustainability Best Practice Recommendations, TCFD

Certifications: ISO 14001, BREEAM

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 3
  • 7
  • 11
  • 13
  • 17

Assura's actions align with these SDGs through providing high-quality, accessible buildings, investing in health-improving projects, supporting sustainable development, reducing carbon emissions, and engaging with stakeholders.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Net Zero Carbon Design Guide

Awards & Recognition

  • Top 10 FTSE Women Leaders Review 2023