As we enter the final year of our Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy 2021-2026 (SCCS), it's an opportunity to reflect on how far we've come, and the impact of the commitments made since the strategy was launched in September 2021.

The SCCS Update 2026 reflects on the significant progress made over the past financial year, outlines our key delivery plans for 2026-27, and sets out a further revision of some original SCCS commitments.

Review of progress in 2025-26

During 2025-26, we continued to make progress across all areas. We improved energy efficiency through our Building Utilisation Strategy and prepared for a strategic review of Meadowbank House to explore future net zero opportunities. Our commitment to the circular economy saw 1.2 tonnes of IT equipment reused, refurbished or recycled, while recording an average recycling rate of 73% (a 5% increase compared to last year) at Meadowbank House.

We continued to advance digital transformation, reducing paper use by 35% compared to our baseline. We explored how to better understand and measure the sustainability impacts of our growing digital estate.

To support sustainable travel, we focused on encouraging active commuting through events, resources and new digital tools designed to help colleagues choose lower-carbon travel options. In procurement, we expanded the scope of our carbon footprint to include additional contracted services, invested in staff training and developed our first Sustainable Procurement Action Plan.

Our biodiversity work included installing bird boxes, enhancing planting across our estate and exploring opportunities for colleague involvement in gardening initiatives.

We continued to refine how we measure emissions associated with hybrid working, helping us better understand and reduce our environmental impact both in the workplace and at home.

Looking ahead to 2026-27

With the SCCS now extended through 2026-27, our focus will remain on delivering across all seven themed action areas while strengthening our contribution to Scotland’s net zero ambitions. Key priorities include:

• expanding the scope of our carbon footprint to capture additional supplier and digital estate emissions
• supporting colleagues to reduce emissions through sustainable commuting and home working
• exploring net zero opportunities through the strategic review of Meadowbank House
• continuing to develop our Climate Risk and Adaptation Plan

Another key priority during 2026-27 will be the ongoing development and finalisation of the new SCCS, which will launch in April 2027. Building on the progress made so far, our refreshed strategy will provide a clear roadmap for continued improvement and our journey to net zero by 2045.