Westcon-Comstor achieves 100 per cent renewable electricity milestone in UK

IT distie transitions UK sites to renewable energy sources, aligning with sustainability goals

IT distributor Westcon-Comstor has achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity in the UK.

The transition has seen the distie move to powering its sites in Bracknell, Cirencester, and Swindon purely by renewable electricity.

The UK is the first region to achieve this milestone as part of a wider company goal to move to 100 per cent renewable electricity globally by 2030.

The initiative would enable the group, with a presence in over 70 nations, to align with its existing emissions reduction targets and bolsters its overarching goal of attaining net zero emissions by 2050.

"Having set ourselves ambitious sustainability targets as a business, it's rewarding to be able to demonstrate that we are making tangible progress in an important market like the UK," said Mark McLardie, head of ESG at Westcon-Comstor.

"Purchased electricity currently accounts for nearly 70 per cent of our Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions globally, and moving to renewable sources will accelerate our progress towards a 50 per cent reduction in these emissions by 2030.

"We also recognise that reducing energy consumption has a vital role to play in ensuring our business is operating sustainably, and this is a real focus for us in the UK and globally."

The wider sustainable strategy

As well as transitioning to more sustainable sources of energy, the distributor said it is working to reduce energy consumption across all its UK facilities.

An upgrade to energy efficient LED lighting has recently been completed at its Swindon logistics facility, which is expected to reduce consumption by 25,000kWh annually.

Meanwhile the company's offices in Cirencester and Bracknell both now benefit from electric vehicle (EV) charging points for employees.

Westcon recently had its target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

In October 2023, the distributor published a breakdown of annual carbon emissions which showed scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – defined as those it either directly owns or indirectly controls – declined by 2.2 percent to 3,276 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in the fiscal year ending 28 February, 2023.

Meanwhile, Scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions occurring across the company's value and supply chain – still witnessed a 17.4 percent year-over-year increase, reaching 785,953 tCO2e.

Westcon attributed this rise to the current spend-based emissions calculation methodology, which reflects the company's 18.3 percent revenue growth over the same period.

In another move to further its environmental commitments, the distribution giant appointed its first chief sustainability officer - Kevin Brzezinski, the company's global operations SVP, who assumed the role in addition to his current position.

As the chief sustainability officer, Brzezinski is responsible for the company's efforts to minimise its carbon footprint and environmental impact.