Introduction

Cosse Consultancy have a proud history of innovating in modern methods of construction and modular building services, and we are dedicated to using this creative approach and our entrepreneurial spirit to respond to the biggest challenge of our generation:  the climate crisis.

In order to stop the global temperatures rising beyond 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the world needs to reach net zero by 2050.

It is recognised that climate change undermines the core foundations of good health, contributing to cardiovascular disease, asthma, and cancer. Furthermore, action to tackle climate change also reduces the burden of disease from air pollution, obesity, and poor diet whilst directly addressing health inequalities experienced across the country. 

Our journey to Net Zero defines the ways in which we will reduce the emissions associated with our business. At the same time, we can respond to match the ambitions of the NHS and become:

• Net zero by 2040 for the emissions the NHS controls directly; 
• Net zero by 2045 for the emissions the NHS has the ability to influence. 

As well as supporting our Journey to Net Zero the changes we are making now will provide a better, more sustainable future for our business. Cosse consultancy intends to grow in harmony with the challenging needs of our customers – to create healthcare solutions and services that advance the world we serve and assisting in reducing the burden of disease for air pollution, obesity and poor diet

Underpinning this work, is an understanding that climate change undermines the core foundations of good health, contributing to cardiovascular disease, asthma, and cancer. Furthermore, action to tackle climate change also reduces the burden of disease from air pollution and improving clinical outcomes.

Now as the world faces enormous climate challenges, Cosse Consultancy is ready to play our part in producing the sustainable economy and healthcare systems that the planet needs. We will do this with integrity by making all possible reductions to our emissions across scopes 1,2 and 3.

Our ambitions are scientifically based, aligned with the NHS, the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) and with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Pathway to Net Zero

In order to establish the carbon footprint of Cosse consultancy and the journey to net zero, the scope of emissions that will be included needs to be defined.  The categories for the different areas of emissions follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) scopes as detailed below:

• GHGP scope 1: Direct emissions from owned or directly controlled sources
• GHGP scope 2: Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy
• GHGP scope 3: All other indirect emissions that occur in producing and transporting goods and services, including the full supply chain.

We recognise, these targets do not cover the full scope of emissions from our business, as shown with the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus as there still some emissions which fall outside these scopes. 

Approach

Cosse Consultancy are a very young organisation and has not previously published an environmental policy or specific targets relating to GHG emissions.  The business recognises that strong environmental management has a direct impact on the value of the brand and our social values.

The organisation’s ethos is based around the commitment to maximise efficiency and minimise waste. Recent initiatives include:  

• Replacing old equipment with new and making more efficient reduced and sustainable energy choices e.g., increasing usage of electric vehicles and switching to renewable electricity. 
• Discussing our sustainability targets with our office landlords and jointly agreeing strategies to reduce service electricity consumption and usage of renewable electricity within our venues e.g., installing solar panels; using “Electronic Product Environmental Assessments Tool” certification to inform purchase or lease of green electronic products, installing energy efficient LED lighting, automatic lighting, timers on electrical appliances and promoting ‘switch off’ campaigns to staff, patients, families and carers. Increasing usage of virtual electronic and text communications to minimise printed materials and paper usage.
• Incentivising staff to use green transport, walk or cycle to work with a bike purchase scheme and providing transport loans for season passes to encourage public transport usage at reduced cost.
• Maximising home working and virtual meeting technology to reduce unnecessary staff travel.
• Designing ‘whole life’ energy efficient features into our ‘fleet’ of modular buildings including:  latest energy efficient heating/cooling and ventilation systems, LED lighting with PIR control to automatically switch off, once only design for flooring, walling, ceilings to remove the need to replace on every relocation thereby reducing waste significantly. Increase the Pre-Manufactured Value of the offsite build to dramatically reduce the vehicle emissions associated with a construction project.

Plans for 2025

Cosse Consultancy have created an Environmental, Social and Governance Working Group. During 2024/25 this group will:

• Develop and achieve ISO14001:2015 – Environmental Management
• Conduct and complete a comprehensive audit to identify all GHGP scopes, quantify the baseline and all carbon reductions.
• Appoint ‘Energy Champions’ in key areas throughout the business.
• Develop the quarterly energy and carbon reporting and review structure.
• Provide regular training, coaching and mentoring to motivate our people to adopt ways of working to improve sustainability within the workplace and provide the best advice to all our customers.
• Ensure that our primary supply chain works with us to help achieve our objectives by collaborating with them to deliver best practices and innovative solutions.
• Publish in a transparent manner our progress against our stated objectives and ambitions.

Understanding the challenge

Cosse Consultancy have chosen a stepped approach to our carbon reduction plan. This approach will see us target to achieve at least a 4.5% reduction in each year between 2024 and this will ensure we achieve net zero by 2045.

Our actions at a glance

Collectively, there are many things we can all do to reduce our environmental impact. The five priority areas below are the areas where we at Cosse Consultancy can make the biggest difference:

1.  One of our biggest interventions to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions will be switching to 100% renewable energy either through procurement or onsite generation. By using renewable electricity to power the operations of Cosse Consultancy, we will remove our critical dependency on fossil fuels. 
2. Renewable energy acceleration. Driving towards a cleaner future by transitioning to an all-electric vehicle (EV) fleet and working to ensure our staff, patients and visitors are able to reduce emissions through our positive actions.
3. Collaboration with our employees, customers and suppliers will be key to tackling our source 3 emissions.  We will adopt positive practice from the NHS and encourage stakeholders across our value chain to transition to methodologies which proactively reduce carbon emissions.
4. Once we have reduced our emissions from our value chain as much as we are able to, we will use leading practice carbon removal techniques to tackle any final residuals and meet our overall targets. In line with the SBTi, we have set our decarbonisation pathway in a scientifically robust way, to ensure our methods balance emissions sustainably.
5. This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 06/21 and associated guidance and reporting standards for Carbon Reduction Plans.

Whole Life Service

Our ambitions/aspirations do not stop here.  Photovoltaic panels generate power and for this reason, another idea would be to install a battery to store electricity – such as a Tesla Powerwall.  (www.tesla.com.en_GB/powerwall).   With the recent improvements in the power/weight ratio of batteries, electric cars and bikes have now come of age.  Imagine a hospital site with personnel whizzing around on electric bicycles which they charged from the hospital facility at no cost.  

From the initial idea, through concept development, business case submittal, planning, final design and construction – this is where your current architects/construction professionals would stop.

Cosse Consultancy wish to create a collaborative partnership with all our customers and believes the capability to provide a total whole-life service for our customers is essential.   Cosse Consultancy have the capability to source/commission medical equipment and devices to suit budgets and specific demands through close working relationships with all manufacturers and suppliers. Customers can also take advantage of planned and preventative maintenance for all Cosse Consultancy’s products/services to provide total peace of mind.  The whole life service is underwritten by the Cosse consultancy commitment of ‘on time and on budget’ – leaving all our customers with the opportunity of taking care of other important tasks.