Our Commitment to Sustainability

At Edwards Cleaning Services, we believe that running a sustainable business is not just a goal, but a responsibility. Our commitment is rooted in minimising our environmental impact, reducing waste, and operating with a clear focus on achieving Net Zero by 2030, or sooner.

We began our Net Zero journey by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and partnering with the local sustainability consultancy, Imvelo, led by Tamma Carel. Their guidance, along with training from the NBSL-funded "To Net Zero" course, helped us establish a robust, measurable path. We started measuring emissions across all three scopes in May 2023, a journey that has since been recognised through our Sustainability Award (SME) win at the NEAA Awards.

Key contact

Paul Edwards

Managing Director

0191 300 0815

Email Paul

Tamma From Imvelo Presenting Our Carbon Report

Measurable Progress: Above And Beyond

Following our latest carbon report, we achieved a 13% reduction in emissions compared to our 2024 baseline. This marks our second year of formal carbon reporting and demonstrates continued progress as we build on the foundations put in place during our first assessment.

Rather than a one-off improvement, this reduction reflects an ongoing commitment to measuring, reviewing and refining how we operate. By tracking emissions across all three scopes, we are able to identify where meaningful changes can be made and ensure those changes deliver real results over time.

This approach allows us to move beyond intention and focus on measurable impact.

Key Steps on Our Journey

Our strategy has focused on addressing the areas with the biggest environmental footprint first, prioritising "easy hanging fruit" while tackling more complex changes simultaneously.

Digital Transformation & Waste Reduction

We recognised that significant waste came from paper-based forms, audits, and reports, requiring transport back to the office for storage. Our solution was a comprehensive move to digital operations:

Paper Elimination: We introduced Chromebooks and moved all operations to Google Workspace, saving everything to the cloud.
Digital Processes: We now use Dochub for digital signing and our bespoke system for digital auditing, allowing clients to view all policies and compliance documents via a digital portal.
Impact: This change drastically reduced the need for transport and storage, saving dozens of trees' worth of paper annually.

Cleaner Operations & Fleet Management

Minimising fuel consumption has been a priority, with a focus on smarter route planning, reducing unnecessary journeys and improving overall efficiency:

Virtual Meetings: We now conduct meetings, interviews, and supplier discussions via platforms like Google Meet, Teams, and Zoom to reduce mileage and fuel costs.
Fleet Transition: As van leases expire, we are actively downsizing our vehicles and replacing them with electric or hybrid models.
Optimised Logistics: We have reduced the need for central storage and transport by arranging for suppliers to deliver stock directly to client sites.

Product Innovation & Pollution Reduction

Our commitment to a greener environment involves a continuous review of the products we use and a thorough search for better, more sustainable alternatives:

Plastic Reduction: We have made a major push to remove as much plastic, especially single-use plastic, across the business and ensure all remaining plastic is recyclable.
Safer Chemicals: We visit exhibitions (e.g., Interclean), to find new, environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Product Development: The industry is evolving with a growing range of biodegradable and low-impact products available.

Partnering for a Greener Future

While we focus on reducing our direct emissions, we are also investing in the future of the planet through strategic partnerships:

Carbon Strategy & Reporting: Imvelo provides crucial guidance, measurement, and the production of our official Carbon Reports.
Carbon Offsetting: We have partnered with Ecologi to plant trees, and have planted over 1,400 trees and invested in two other projects that have avoided a certified 28 tonnes CO2e.

Our approach has been recognised through our ISO 14001 accreditation, reinforcing our commitment to structured, responsible environmental management. We are also proud to have been awarded The Sustainability Award (SME) at the NEAA Awards, recognising the progress we continue to make as a business.

We are dedicated to continuing this essential work through better planning, liaising with suppliers, and brainstorming new ideas with our team. We are confident we will achieve our Net Zero target well before the 2030 deadline.

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