climate action
Climate action at Diploma is about taking steps that matter today and set us up for tomorrow. We use more renewable energy, improve energy efficiency and work hard to strengthen the quality of our data so we can track our progress with clarity and confidence.
We are taking decisive action to improve our impact on the climate, underpinned by a transparent and scientific approach.
Our net zero roadmap
Our journey to net zero is guided by science and built on steady, continuous improvement. We are:
Expanding our use of renewable electricity
Reducing the amount of energy we use per unit of output
Improving supplier data so we can take targeted action on Scope 3 emissions
Each of these steps helps us reduce our impact today and build resilience for the future emissions.
Climate action in practice
Improved access to Scope 3 data
Our partnership with Ecovadis is accelerating our ability to better engage with suppliers and enabling improved access to Scope 3 data across our value chain. This will enable us to focus better on identifying and embedding decarbonisation initiatives across our businesses and driving supplier engagement at scale.
Momentum towards net zero
In FY25, we completed third-party verification of our FY23 and FY24 greenhouse gas inventories – with FY25 verification in progress – across both market-based and location-based reporting. This progress is reflected in our CDP rating of B in FY25, marking a step-change improvement from D in prior years and demonstrating our momentum towards net zero.
Powering progress through smarter energy use
Our approach to reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions is built on understanding, reducing, procuring and generating. We record emissions quarterly and verify them annually to ensure consistency and transparency. Through improved energy efficiency, including investment in modern machinery, Group electricity intensity reduced by 15% in FY25 to 11.08 MWh/£m. We have also accelerated our transition to renewable electricity, achieving a 38% market-based reduction versus our FY22 baseline. Today, 82% of our electricity comes from renewable sources, up from just 1% in FY23. On-site generation is considered where it delivers clear operational value.
Building supply chain insight to reduce Scope 3 emissions
Scope 3 emissions remain our biggest challenge, particularly in purchased goods and services and transportation. As a growing, acquisition-led business, these categories naturally expand. Despite this, we are committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030. Our focus is shifting from spend-based estimates to real supplier data, prioritising the highest-impact categories and businesses. We are working with partners such as EcoVadis and CDP to improve transparency and engage suppliers directly. This more data-led approach will enable targeted action and meaningful progress across our value chain.
waste reduction
Reducing our waste intensity and, specifically, the proportion of waste that we send to landfill is one of our sustainability priorities.
A growing internal network helps teams learn from each other and share solutions that work. By making small, thoughtful changes at the source, our businesses are reducing waste and embedding more circular ways of working.
Waste reduction in practice
Recycling through community partnership in Australia
In Australia, we work with a local charity to find practical ways to recycle materials that would otherwise go to landfill.
Some medical shipments use special insulated packaging that cannot be recycled as-is. Through this partnership, the charity’s team works with our life sciences business one day each month to separate the packaging layers by hand, allowing most of the materials to be recycled.
The programme improves our recycling outcomes while creating meaningful jobs and skills-building opportunities for people with disabilities.
Improving waste management across our US sites
In the US, many of our businesses generate relatively small amounts of waste. To manage this more effectively, we work with waste consolidators who help us reduce landfill disposal and improve recycling outcomes.
These partners support our sites in managing all types of materials, making it easier to increase diversion rates while keeping costs and operations under control.
Better access to waste data helps ensure materials are properly sorted, tracked, and sent to recycling or recovery facilities instead of landfill.