At P & M we are committed to managing our impacts and the launch of our 2025 Sustainability Report marks a significant milestone in embedding best practice. Almost three years after releasing our first report, we now have the evidence to demonstrate how consistent effort, transparent reporting and Group-wide initiatives have created the momentum for long term transformation. The latest report shows clear progress in environmental performance, social value and governance, driven by colleagues who understand why sustainability matters and are actively contributing to shared goals.
Purpose Led Progress
The last year has seen us work hard to embed our sustainability strategy, Project Acorn. Across the Group colleagues have taken an active role in driving initiatives and applying its principles in their daily work. A grand total of 77 team members have been involved in all the initiatives in the report, which we are immensely proud of.
At our offices we have upgraded lighting, created wellbeing spaces and introduced outdoor space for people to access nature. On our sites we have taken steps to use lower embodied carbon materials, improve waste management and secure measurable sustainability benefits on projects.
Workforce engagement is key to maximising positive impacts. This steady shift reflects the investment we have made in raising awareness and providing structured learning, supported by the introduction of Stickerbook. This digital learning tool, now recognised with the Business Climate Initiative Award, is transforming how we develop sustainability literacy across the Group. Engagement levels have been strong, with colleagues welcoming the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills.
Our commitment to developing talent is equally clear. Traineeships, apprenticeships and specialist training pathways ensure we are building a pipeline of talented and enthusiastic people who understand both our sector and our sustainability objectives. These programmes are designed to attract individuals with a strong appetite for learning, offering a mix of practical experience and formal training across P & M’s business units.
Environmental Initiatives and Emissions Reductions
Environmental management has advanced significantly. We have improved data capture and analysis with our waste partner Allstone, expanded recycling trials and explored new solutions for complex materials such as polystyrene. Working with Enviro GY and other specialist suppliers shows promising potential for greater recovery and recycling. The packaging take back scheme of a major supplier, piloted on key sites by ISD and Tysoe managers, is demonstrating measurable impact and offering a practical model for wider adoption.
Across our facilities, practical steps such as upgrading lighting at Unit A and creating outdoor planters have strengthened environmental performance and supported biodiversity. PLG’s roof upgrade and introduction of a full office recycling service also highlight how incremental operational changes contribute to wider environmental gains.
Elsewhere, transport and fuel use remain challenges for our industry, yet we continue to explore hybrid options and alternative fuels where viable. Fully electric vans do not currently meet the range and reliability needs of our mobile operations, but we continue to assess sector developments closely.
Driving Decarbonisation
The report provides a detailed overview of emissions. Despite an increase in turnover of around £2 million, total Group emissions decreased by 3,158 tCO2e, representing a reduction of 13.05%. The most notable achievement is the 13.63% fall in Scope 3 emissions, enabled by stronger supplier data and the introduction of the Carbon Alt Delete emissions calculator. This transition away from broad assumptions provides a more detailed and granular footprint. Scope 3 reductions alone equate to the emissions from 420 return economy flights between London and Sydney, highlighting the scale of positive change.
ISD UK’s emissions fell by 23.1%, driven by improved supplier data, more accurate waste data and reductions in electricity consumption. ISD Australia experienced business growth, yet emissions intensity fell by nearly a third due to improved data quality and project location efficiencies. For Tysoe and PLG, we have worked hard to improve reporting accuracy, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement.
Social Value
Social impact remains central to P & M’s sustainability strategy. Alongside Stickerbook, the introduction of a new HR management app provides colleagues with simple access to policies and support, strengthening workplace culture and communication.
The report outlines how our P & M for STEM network demonstrates our commitment to nurturing future talent. Building on our partnership with STEMAZING, the network enables colleagues to deliver hands on STEM workshops to primary school children. Activities such as building straw rocket blasters help pupils link engineering principles to real world contexts and build their confidence in problem solving.
Charitable engagement has also continued to grow. Our annual Golf Day raised around £34,000 for the Lord’s Taverners, supporting their work to empower disadvantaged and disabled young people through sport. These contributions reflect our belief that sustainability must extend beyond business operations to support broader social outcomes.
Governance and Leadership
Strong governance underpins every aspect of the report. Policy reviews, strengthened HR frameworks and improved processes have been implemented across the Group. Updated family friendly policies and new wellbeing measures demonstrate our commitment to supporting colleagues effectively.
Technical governance has also been reinforced through the appointment of a new Technical Director for ISD Solutions UK, providing robust leadership in design assurance and industry standards. Updated workflow mapping ensures clear accountability and better decision making across projects and departments.
Supply chain governance continues to be a priority. We already access robust data from several key suppliers and plan to develop formal supplier questionnaires to enhance coverage and improve data quality. Better data supports better decisions and helps suppliers understand our expectations, improving resilience and reducing risk.
Extending our Impact
The document also highlights how P & M continues to play an active leadership role across the cold chain and construction sectors. The formation of the Chilled Advisory Group, involving seven companies, demonstrates our commitment to collective action and shared solutions to sustainability challenges. Our continued involvement with the Cold Chain Federation and the CITB Steering Group shows that we are helping to shape industry standards, practices and future skills.
We have also contributed to major industry events, including the Gloucestershire Net Zero Conference and the Cold Chain Climate Summit, where we have shared our progress, challenges and insights. These platforms allow us to influence wider change and encourage transparency across the sector.
Future Focus
Our Roadmap sets out clear ambitions. We will continue improving data quality, refining our waste reduction strategy, strengthening climate resilience and supporting long term net zero goals. The report reinforces the need for collective effort. As outlined in the report’s foreword, “We have been given an opportunity to make a difference and having laid some solid foundations and implemented a range of sustainability focused initiatives, it is important to build on the momentum we have achieved.”
We understand the importance of collaboration in meeting our goals. We invite all stakeholders to read the full report and to work in partnership with us as we continue managing our impacts and helping everyone make more responsible choices.