ATPI Group claims carbon ‘neutrality’ milestone

Travel management company ATPI Group has announced that it reached its carbon “neutrality” goal four years ahead of its original 2026 target date.

The UK-based company said in its first sustainability report that it achieved this milestone in 2022 through a variety of measures instigated by its ATPI Halo sustainability division including the measurement, reduction and compensation of its CO2 emissions.

ATPI said it had been working with sustainability consultancy Anthesis Group to carry out data collection, analysis and reporting on the TMC’s carbon footprint since 2021. This work also allowed ATPI to implement CO2 equivalent (CO2e) reduction methods and compensate all residue CO2e emissions.

According to its 2024 sustainability report, ATPI has “retired” 2,980 carbon credits to cover 100 per cent of its 2022 carbon footprint, thus achieving carbon neutrality for the year. These credits cover 10 sustainability projects across Africa and Asia, including reforestation initiatives and others aimed at improving cooking practices to reduce emissions.

The report showed that ATPI’s total carbon footprint was 3,905 tonnes of CO2e emissions in 2023 across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, which equated to 1.86 tonnes of CO2e per full time employee – 38 per cent of total emissions were from business travel. ATPI has committed to “fully compensate” these emissions from last year, although details have not yet been finalised.

ATPI added that 43 per cent of its energy at its office locations was from renewable sources, while 29 per cent of company vehicles were electric. The TMC said these measures had helped to reduce emissions per employee by around 10 per cent in 2023, despite a 23 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of staff. The company also has a target of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50 per cent but there is no mention of a specific target for reducing Scope 3 emissions.

The company also appointed its first sustainability officer Louisa Toure earlier this year to lead internal sustainability initiatives and develop ESG (environmental, social and governance) strategies across the entire group.

“ATPI’s inaugural report showcases our exceptional journey in ESG practices, detailing key metrics aligned with our global sustainability plan,” said Toure. “It presents new information and data that we have not previously reported on, revealing a transparent account of both our progress and areas for continuous improvement.

“Over the coming year, we will continue to integrate sustainability into every facet of our operation, and eagerly anticipate sharing our progress.”

The report also covers other ESG priorities for ATPI, including working with local communities, making its workplaces safe, inclusive and respectful, plus increasing the number of women in leadership roles and reducing the gender pay gap.

ATPI added that a global staff survey showed that 71 per cent of employees believed the group had a “genuine commitment” towards sustainability, while 30 per cent had completed ESG courses in 2023.

Ian Sinderson, CEO of ATPI Group, added: “There is no doubt that sustainability is embedded within our business, and we are proud of the contributions made daily by our employees.”