Climate Action Plan

Our Climate Action Plan outlines our commitment to promoting positive environmental impact and protecting our planet. We are committed to supporting the global ambition to limit global warming to 1.5°C, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. To support this, Virtalent has set a net zero target of 2035. This Plan sets out the actions we will take to achieve this goal and reduce our environmental impact by embedding sustainable practices across our business operations.

While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is central to tackling climate change, we recognise that a narrow focus on carbon alone can lead to unintended negative impacts on nature and people if not carefully managed. For example, the extraction of raw materials used in low carbon technologies such as electric vehicle batteries may affect high conservation value ecosystems and local communities if environmental and social safeguards are not in place. 

As such, Virtalent has adopted a holistic approach to climate action that considers climate change alongside biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and social impacts. We seek to ensure that the actions we take to reduce emissions also support nature, protect ecosystems and their associated services (such as food and water), and contribute positively to communities and other stakeholders.

This Climate Action Plan is published on our website and is accessible to all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and investors, for transparency and accountability. It applies to all our operations and employees and covers our direct activities as well as relevant impacts within our supply chain.

Scope and Governance
This Climate Action Plan has been formally reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board retains overall accountability for this plan, with day-to-day responsibilities assigned to Angie Driver, Business Manager while all staff are responsible for implementation and performance. Progress will be reviewed at least annually at senior management level.  

Our Commitments  
Energy and fuel transition: We will continue to transition towards lower carbon fuels and energy sources across our operations. This includes improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels wherever possible, in line with our net zero target. We will: 

• Improve our energy efficiency by 20% by 2027 

• Increase renewable energy use across our operations by 50% by 2027
• Measure our Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2026

To improve our energy efficiency, we will implement measures such as LED lights and actions to improve our building energy performance (insulation, heating, and cooling systems).

Raising awareness: We are committed to creating a culture of climate action at Virtalent. We will:  

• Embed environmental considerations into 100% of company policies, procedures, and decision-making processes by 2027 

• Ensure 100% of our employees complete Sustainability Training by 2026.  

Reducing emissions from travel: We will continue to prioritise virtual meetings and video conferencing as a primarily remote company, reducing the overall need for business travel and costs associated with travel emissions.  When necessary, we will incentivise and support employees to use public transport, cycling, walking, and car sharing for commuting and business-related travel. 

Circular economy and resource use: We are committed to promoting and enabling circular economy principles across our operations. This includes prioritising the efficient use of resources and reducing reliance on virgin materials by supporting reuse, repair, refurbishment, repurposing, and recycling where practicable. We will seek to minimise waste, reduce overall consumption of raw materials and energy, and continuously improve resource efficiency across our activities. We will: 

• Incorporate a company-wide recycling programme by 2026, prioritising waste reduction, reuse, and circular economy principles 

• Reduce total waste by 20% by 2028 

• Increase recycling volumes by 50% by 2028 

Sustainable procurement: We work with our suppliers and service providers to minimise emissions, protect nature, and respect social considerations across the value chain. We will seek to work with suppliers that have a clear climate strategy, are transparent about their greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate responsible environmental and social practices. We will:  

• Ensure 100% of our suppliers are screened for environmental and human rights impacts by 2026 

Local sourcing: Where materials or services are required, we will seek to source locally where this demonstrably reduces net greenhouse gas emissions and supports local economies, without compromising environmental or social standards.

Biodiversity: We recognise the interdependence between climate stability, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems. We will seek to avoid, minimise, and where possible mitigate adverse impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and critical ecosystem services such as clean water, soil health, and food systems. When making decisions related to energy, transport, materials, and procurement, we will consider potential impacts on natural environments and aim to support nature positive outcomes alongside emissions reductions. We will: 

• Ensure 100% of our suppliers are screened for environmental and human rights impacts, taking biodiversity into consideration, by 2026 

People, Communities and Stakeholders: We acknowledge that climate-related actions can have differentiated impacts on people and communities. We are committed to considering the effects of climate action on local communities, minority and vulnerable groups, including women, children, elderly people, and people with disabilities, as well as other affected stakeholders. We will seek to identify and manage potential social risks associated with our climate actions, including those within our value chain, and aim to ensure that our approach supports inclusive, just, and equitable outcomes as we transition to a lower carbon economy. We will: 

• Annually review this plan and our actions for risks impacting people, communities and stakeholders 

Climate advocacy and responsible investment: We recognise the importance of collective action and policy engagement in addressing climate change. We will: 

• Engage in climate advocacy where appropriate and annually review our memberships of trade associations to ensure alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement 

• Seek to ensure that financial investments, including assets and pension funds where applicable, are aligned with the objectives of this Climate Action Plan and support the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy 

Resource Allocation
We have allocated the necessary human, technical, and financial resources to deliver our Climate Action Plan effectively, including:   

• Sustainability Lead/Manager to oversee the implementation and coordinate efforts across departments 

• HR Director to support employee engagement, training programmes, and embedding sustainability into company culture and policies 

• Business Development Manager to allocate budget, track sustainability-related expenditure  

• Procurement team to integrate sustainability criteria into supplier selection processes 

• Senior Management team to provide oversight, ensure accountability, and review progress against targets 

Stakeholder Engagement
We will actively engage with stakeholders to support the delivery of this plan. This includes:  

• Employees through training and internal engagement initiatives 

• Suppliers by integrating sustainability criteria into procurement  

• Customers by communicating our progress clearly and transparently 

• Investors and partners through transparent reporting and ongoing dialogue. 

Monitoring, Reporting, and Transparency
We are committed to transparently reporting our progress against this plan. We will publish annual updates on our targets, in line with recognised international frameworks. This information will be made publicly available to our stakeholders in the form of a Sustainability/Impact Report. 

Policy Review 
This Climate Action Plan will be reviewed every three years and approved by our Board. Updates or changes will be communicated publicly and internally to ensure transparency and alignment with best practices in sustainability and sustainable business conduct.   

Approved on behalf of the Board of Directors by: 
Name: Angie Driver
Role:  Business Manager
Signature: 

Angie Driver

Date: 27.07.2026