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Computacenter 'aims to be carbon net zero by 2040'

Reseller is aiming to be carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by this year while committing to be net zero by 2040

Computacenter aims to become carbon net zero by 2040 and will be carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by this year, the reseller announced today.

The Hatfield-based firm says that it now aims to be carbon neutral for Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2022, five years ahead of its previous target.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions refer to direct emissions from facilities as well as indirect emissions such as electricity consumption.

Computacenter has also brought forward its carbon net zero commitment, which includes Scope 3 emissions, by 10 years to 2040.

It means the reseller has matched the net zero target of UK peer Softcat, which, in May last year, also pledged to reach carbon net zero by 2040.

Scope 3 includes indirect emissions such as business travel and transport as well as emissions stemming from supply chains and the products from technology partners.

Computacenter claims that it reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 74 per cent between 2019 and 2021, despite continuing to expand and grow the business during that period.

The reseller claims it has invested in its new and existing facilities to reduce energy consumption, as well as installing solar panels on its buildings in Hatfield in the UK and Kerpen in Germany to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The reseller claims it has also moved its electricity contracts to green energy suppliers.

In 2021, 73 per cent of Computacenter's electricity usage came from renewable sources, it claims, which means the reseller will need to make "minimal usage" of carbon offsets to reach carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions this year.

Computacenter's group finance director and chair of its Climate Committee, Tony Conophy, said: "Achievement of Carbon Neutral (Scopes 1 & 2) in 2022 will be a major milestone on our journey to Net Zero, based on years of carbon reduction efforts across the business that we are confident can be sustained and improved upon. We're proud that we will be one of the first companies in our industry to achieve this."

Group development director, Mo Siddiqi, added: "We're proud of what our people have achieved to hit this milestone. We haven't talked much about it, we've just delivered. We will continue to improve, invest and innovate in all areas of sustainability in line with our broader Sustainability Strategy. We'll be the best that we can be; a company that our people, customers, partners and communities can be proud of."