A SOUTH coast property firm has slashed its emissions by more than 40 per cent.

Vail Williams made a considerable impact by relocating offices to more energy efficient buildings and mandating where possible that energy supply is from green or renewable sources.

The firm, which has a base in Bournemouth, has voluntarily published its annual Carbon Reduction Statement, this time for the financial year 2023-24.

Scope one and two emissions which have reduced from the baseline year of 2020-21 by 42 per cent from 100 tCo2e to 57 tCo2e.

Vail Williams’ LLP members are also switching to by EV or hybrid vehicles when petrol or diesel fuelled vehicles’ contracts end.

As a result, the number of EV miles has increased by over 800 per cent since last year powered wherever possible by green or renewable electricity. The car fleet will be 100 per cent EV or hybrid by end of May 2026.

Scope three business travel carbon emissions have also reduced from 2022-23 by nearly 17 per cent to 59.9 tCo2e.

The firm is looking to improve this with initiatives such as staff being able to save up to 40 per cent on an EV through a salary sacrifice scheme in partnership with Octopus energy.

Scope one refers to direct emissions are from sources that an organisation owns or controls, such as burning fuel in vehicles, while scope two refers to indirect emissions from the use of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Scope three encompasses emissions not produced directly by a business but occurring in its value chain, such as through suppliers.

Matthew Samuel Camps, Vail Williams managing partner, said the decisions and changes implemented by the business “are working and making a positive impact in the right direction”.

He added: “We will continue to make these positive changes in order to mitigate our impact on the planet together with encouraging staff in their charitable work and social impact through our volunteering gift days.

“Using carbon calculators we are now beginning to capture wider scope three emissions which will enable us to monitor and make positive choices through our procurement of goods and services going forward.”