Royal Institution Grade I listed home set to surpass sustainability targets The Royal Institution (Ri) is on track to achieve a remarkable 42% reduction in carbon emissions at its Grade I listed Georgian building – surpassing its original target of 35% – thanks to a £4.35 million grant from the Mayor of London. A centre for scientific discovery for over 225 years, with sections dating from 1705, the Royal Institution’s home on Albemarle Street has undergone transformative works to move from a commercial building EPC D rating, to a B rating, placing the iconic building in the top 20% of non-domestic properties awarded ratings in the UK since 2009. The works mean that the Ri already meets the target efficiency rating expected to be applied to all commercial buildings from 2030, four years ahead of schedule, and demonstrates that London’s historic buildings can become sustainability leaders without compromising architectural heritage. They also secure the environmental future of one of the UK’s most-loved places of science and create a fitting backdrop for Undaunted, a partnership between the Ri and Imperial College London that powers exciting early-stage climate innovation across London and the UK. As part of ‘Project FootpRint’, the Royal Institution has: All of the above was achieved with only strictly necessary closures to public visitors to the Ri’s free science museum, and while maintaining the majority of the Ri’s science engagement activities (including its 200th CHRISTMAS LECTURES® series) and protecting live research programmes using highly sensitive machines that could be affected by dust from building works. It was in the basement laboratories of the Ri between 1859 and 1861 that John Tyndall proved that gases like water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb and radiate infrared heat. His experiments showed that these gases trap heat in the atmosphere, suggesting that changes in their concentration could alter Earth’s climate. This is now more commonly known as the Greenhouse Effect. The Royal Institution’s archive holds an ‘internationally significant’ collection of scientific items all uniquely linked to the work of scientists at the Ri over the past 227 years. This includes the archive of Tyndall’s work encompassing his notebooks covering 1859-62 and containing all the write-ups for his experiments on greenhouses gases, the notes for the CHRISTMAS LECTURES® he delivered on the topic, and first editions of his book Contributions to Molecular Physics in the Domain of Radiant Heat (1862). On public display in the Ri’s free museum is the rudimentary apparatus that Tyndall developed to establish that certain gases absorb more heat in the atmosphere than others. Other pioneering scientists who have lived, worked and/or achieved major scientific breakthroughs in the Albemarle Street building include Michael Faraday, Humphry Davy, Kathleen Lonsdale, James Dewar, William and Lawrence Bragg and Sir George Porter. The building’s multi-use history – as residences, workplaces and a meeting place for the public and scientists – was apparent in the works, which were complicated by the various ways the building had been reconfigured over several centuries. The Ri’s transformation – ‘Project FootpRint’ – was made possible thanks to £4.35m funding from the Mayor of London, with Coniston Limited, a heritage conservation specialist, as the principal contractor. The results help secure the future of the Ri as a place where the public and scientists can explore science together and the base from which the Ri’s charitable activities inspire curiosity in people of all ages throughout the UK and internationally. They also ensure the Ri remains a fitting backdrop for Undaunted, which enables talented climate innovators to turn their ideas into impact, and which has received support from the Mayor of London on a number of its programmes and activities. The startups that have progressed through Undaunted’s accelerator programmes have gone on to secure over $1.3bn investment and create over 1,600 jobs in 30 countries Katherine Mathieson, Director of the Royal Institution, said: “While the science of the greenhouse effect may have been established at the Ri, today we faced the same challenges as the UK’s many other iconic heritage spaces, in adapting our 300-year-old building to meet our climate responsibilities. “We are extremely grateful for the Mayor of London’s visionary support, which has demonstrated that the UK’s hard-to-tackle older buildings can achieve dramatic carbon reductions while preserving centuries of history. We would be delighted to share our learnings – including the challenges – from our project with custodians of other such cherished assets who are looking to start a similar journey..” The Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban said: “The Mayor is proud to have invested in the transformation of the Royal Institution, one of London’s most prestigious heritage buildings and the home of climate science.  “This incredible transformation shows how every organisation can play their part in tackling the climate crisis, regardless of the age or status of commercial buildings, and acts as an inspiration to other historic organisations across the city. It shows how by working together we are building a city for the future and a fairer, greener London for everyone.” Scott Evans, Project Manager, Coniston, said: “When you’re working within a Grade I listed building that’s evolved over two centuries, every time you open up a floor or start tracing pipework you uncover another part of its story. You’re constantly learning how the building has changed over time.  “What made it genuinely fascinating was doing all of that while the building stayed operational as far as possible. Every crane lift, every roof installation, every system changeover was planned around the day to day life of the building. “Beyond the technical achievement, there’s a real sense of history here. Seeing a Grade I listed building lead the way as an example for decarbonisation at this scale, feels like a full circle moment. It’s the kind of project you’re proud to be part of.” Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Undaunted, Director of Innovation at Imperial’s Grantham Institute, and Co-Director, Imperial School of Convergence Science: Sustainability, said: “Project FootpRint is a great example of the kind of pilot scheme that

With Scope 3 emissions now a contractual requirement across many UK supply chains, the pressure on freight and logistics providers to prove, not simply assert, their environmental performance is intensifying. According to CDP research, supply chain emissions are on average 26 times greater than a company’s direct operational footprint, placing logistics providers at the centre of corporate decarbonisation strategies.  That is changing. For example, under UK government Procurement Policy Note 006, suppliers tendering for central government contracts above £5m annually must commit to Net Zero by 2050 and produce a verified Carbon Reduction Plan covering Scope 1, 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions. In the private sector, the same shift is accelerating. Major retailers, manufacturers and e-commerce platforms are embedding emissions performance directly into supplier scoring criteria and in a growing number of cases, using it to disqualify potential partners. “The conversation in procurement has fundamentally shifted. Five years ago, a logistics partner being asked to evidence their carbon footprint was uncommon. Today, not being able to answer that question with verified data, not estimates, is starting to cost companies contracts.” — Paul Lockwood, Managing Director, SEKO Logistics UK & Ireland A growing credibility gap While expectations are rising, verification remains inconsistent. There is no single mandatory standard for sustainability reporting in logistics, and the market has become crowded with certifications, self-assessments and ESG disclosures of varying rigour. Recent analysis by PwC, covering more than 4,000 company disclosures to CDP, found that only 54% of organisations are on track to meet their Scope 3 targets, and fewer than 22% have what could be considered a mature supplier engagement programme. Across the industry, ambition is continuing to outpace evidence.  This gap is becoming increasingly visible to procurement teams, who are under pressure to demonstrate measurable emissions reductions across their supply chains. Independent ratings providers are therefore playing a more prominent role in decision-making. EcoVadis, which assesses more than 150,000 companies across 180 countries, evaluates organisations across four areas: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. Its scoring is based not only on policy commitments, but on measurable actions, outcomes and third-party verification. Gold status is awarded to companies performing in the top 5% globally, a threshold that is particularly difficult to reach within the logistics sector.  Where SEKO Logistics UK & Ireland Stands SEKO Logistics UK & Ireland’s EcoVadis Gold rating places it among a relatively small group of logistics providers able to demonstrate sustainability performance at this level under independent assessment. The business also ranks within the top 1% of logistics companies globally. The rating reflects a structured, multi-year programme rather than a single initiative. Across its UK and Ireland operations, SEKO holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact, and is accredited as a Living Wage Employer. The company is also an active member of the British International Freight Association’s Sustainability Policy Group. None of these credentials are self-awarded. Each reflects an independently assessed standard, and together they represent a sustainability programme built systematically rather than assembled for outward appearance. “The EcoVadis process is rigorous precisely because every claim requires evidence. That discipline has been valuable for us, it encourages genuine operational improvement rather than just better reporting. Our continuous improvement programme becomes authentic and spans across the entire business” — Paul Lockwood, Managing Director, SEKO Logistics UK & Ireland From targets to delivery Beyond certification, SEKO UK & Ireland has established quantified decarbonisation targets, including a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and 90% by 2050, supported by a completed baseline carbon footprint assessment as part of its broader logistics sustainability strategy in the UK and Ireland. In an industry where long-term pledges are often made without clearly defined starting points, establishing a verified baseline represents a critical step in demonstrating progress. Importantly, the business is also engaging directly with its supplier network to support emissions reduction across the wider supply chain, reflecting broader industry moves toward more sustainable retail supply chains. This includes working with smaller partners to improve measurement, reporting and operational performance, an increasingly important factor for clients managing Scope 3 obligations. Additional initiatives include the rollout of an electric vehicle scheme for employees and active participation in industry forums focused on sustainability. Senior leadership engagement remains central, with sustainability accountability embedded at the executive level and within each department via a dedicated sustainability steering committee.  Implications for the sector The logistics industry is not short of sustainability commitments. What is changing is the level of scrutiny applied to those commitments. As Scope 3 emissions become embedded in both public and private sector procurement processes, the ability to evidence measurable progress is emerging as a key differentiator. Companies that can demonstrate independently verified performance are increasingly positioned ahead of those relying on future targets or self-declared achievements. The gap between those delivering measurable sustainability outcomes and those making claims is widening, and as independent data becomes more central to procurement decisions, that gap is likely to become increasingly consequential. 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