Gleeson latest housebuilder to commit to emission reduction targets

MJ Gleeson has committed to creating emission reduction targets by signing up to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).  

The FTSE-250 housebuilder is in the process of reviewing its emissions and developing ways to reduce them, as well as key reporting milestones to measure itself against targets.

The SBTi framework was established by a coalition of climate organisations in 2015 to “deliver ambitious corporate climate action” by helping private sector companies reduce their emissions.

Companies are required to set emission reduction targets for validation by the SBTi within two years. 

Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley and Crest Nicholson are among the housebuilders to have signed up to SBTi to date. A number of major contractors have also committed to the initiative including  Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty, Barratt, Kier Group and Wilmott Dixon.

Morgan Sindall has committed to reaching net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2045.

Gleeson has jointly launched a biodiversity strategy, which it has said will go beyond biodiversity net gain requirements. 

The housebuilder states it will plant wildlife to benefit invertebrates and pollinators, and build bird and bat boxes and hedgehog highways on developments.

Matt Gibb, group sustainability manager at MJ Gleeson, commented:

“We are very excited about today’s announcement. Gleeson has been working hard on understanding and eliminating both emitted and embedded greenhouse gases in its construction activities for a number of years, and expects to confirm the targets agreed with the SBTi well within the two year timetable.”

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The SBTi is a partnership between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature.