Carbon Reduction Plan 

Commitment to achieving net zero 

BIG Language Solutions is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, aligned with the UK government’s 2050 target and in line with the NHS ambition for its supply chain. 

We will cut absolute emissions first and use high-quality, verified carbon removals only for residual emissions we cannot eliminate. We currently expect offsetting to account for no more than 5% of our net zero target. 

Baseline emissions footprint 

Our baseline year is calendar year 2025, January to December, the first full year for which we hold reliable activity data. Future emissions will be measured against it. 

Because we work remote-first, our footprint is small and mostly indirect. Scope 1 covers only fuel for heating or backup generators at the India office; we own no company vehicles. Scope 2 is electricity at the India office. Most of our footprint is in Scope 3, from business travel and from employees working at home, which we report under employee commuting. 

Current emissions reporting 

Our most recent reporting year is calendar year 2025. This is our first Carbon Reduction Plan, so the current year and the baseline year are the same. From next year this table will show progress against the baseline. 

Emissions are calculated using the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and the 2025 UK government (DESNZ) greenhouse gas conversion factors. India electricity uses the Central Electricity Authority grid emission factor. Homeworking emissions use the EcoAct homeworking methodology. 

Emissions reduction targets 

We will reduce total emissions by 15% against the 2025 baseline by 2030, and by at least 90% by 2050. That would take total emissions from 233.8 tCO₂e to 198.73 tCO₂e by 2030. 

We have also set these interim targets: 

• Reduce combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15% by 2030 

• Reduce business travel emissions per full-time employee by 15% by 2028. 

We will review progress each year and update this plan at least annually. 

Carbon reduction projects 

Completed carbon reduction initiatives 

These environmental management measures are already in place and will continue throughout the delivery of any contract. 

• Remote-first operating model. Since 2020, most employees and linguists have worked from home. We closed or gave up 2 offices, which removed most office energy use and daily commuting. 

• Remote interpreting. Over-the-phone and video interpreting, used where clinically appropriate, avoids interpreter travel to client sites. 

• Cloud infrastructure. Our platforms are hosted by datacenters, which has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050. 

• Paperless operations. Booking, invoicing, reporting and translation delivery are all digital. 

• Virtual-first meetings. Internal and client meetings are held online by default, and travel needs business justification. 

Future carbon reduction initiatives 

Over the next five years we will deliver these initiatives to meet our targets. 

• Renewable electricity in India. Explore opportunities to transition our India offices to renewable electricity tariffs or suitable renewable energy arrangements by 2030, alongside an energy-efficiency review covering lighting, cooling, office equipment and IT infrastructure 

• Sustainable travel policy. Promote lower-carbon travel options by prioritising rail over air travel where practical, particularly for shorter journeys, limiting premium-class air travel where alternatives are available, and reporting business travel emissions to leadership on a quarterly basis. 

• Support for homeworkers. Provide remote employees with guidance on energy-efficient home working practices, including efficient use of heating, cooling and IT equipment, and encourage the use of renewable electricity suppliers where available. 

• Supply chain engagement. Engage with key suppliers, including cloud, telecommunications and IT service providers, to encourage the disclosure of relevant emissions data, adoption of energy-efficiency measures and establishment of credible carbon reduction or Net Zero targets 

• Fuller Scope 3 reporting. Continue to improve the completeness and accuracy of our Scope 3 emissions reporting, with the objective of expanding coverage to all relevant Scope 3 categories, including purchased goods and services, by 2027, where reliable data is available 

• Independent target validation. Evaluate and, where appropriate, seek independent validation of our carbon reduction targets through recognised initiatives such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), subject to the maturity of our emissions data and target-setting methodology 

• Environmental management certification: Evaluate the feasibility of implementing a formal environmental management system and working toward ISO 14001 certification, subject to business priorities, resource availability and management approval 

Declaration and sign-off 

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in line with the NHS England Carbon Reduction Plan requirements and the UK government’s PPN 006 guidance on Carbon Reduction Plans. 

Emissions have been reported and recorded in line with the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard. They use the appropriate UK government greenhouse gas conversion factors for company reporting, and include Scope 1, Scope 2 and the required subset of Scope 3 emissions. 

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors, or an equivalent management body.