The Environment and Sustainability Policy of Touch Design is to ensure so far as it is reasonably practicable that its operations will be carried out with a commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment.
The Management of the Company recognises that our activities have an environmental impact and in developing this policy we seek to confirm our commitment to manage environmental issues.
This policy has the full support of the Directors. In implementing this commitment to manage our environmental impact we will:
This Policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary. The management team endorses these policy statements and is fully committed to their implementation.
We want to adapt and respond to climate change by measuring and reducing our environmental impact. We are motivated by both ethical concern and an economic imperative. We will concentrate on our technical performance of our company and our organisational behaviour as a way to embrace the low-carbon economy of the future.
Kirstie McKenzie (Director) is responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented. However, all directors and employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.
We have signed the SME Climate Commitment and this means we aim to half our carbon emissions by 2030; achieve net zero by 2050; and we disclose our annual progress.
In 22-23 we produced an Environment and Carbon Assessment Report, developed for us by the Nottingham Trent University SiE Sustainability Consultants. This showed for the year 2021-22 we had a baseline gross carbon emissions of 5.39 tCO2e and net emissions of 4.17 tCO2e.
For the year 2022-23 we had a gross carbon emission of 5.26 tCO2e and net emissions of 4.68 tCO2e. From the previous year this is a reduction in our gross carbon emissions of 0.13 tCO2e and an increase of 0.51 tCO2e in our net emissions.
In 2023-24 we had gross carbon emissions of 5.17 tCO2e and net emissions of 0 tCO2e. From the previous year this is a reduction in our gross carbon emissions of 0.09 tCO2e and a reduction of 4.68 tCO2e in our net emissions.
In 2024-25 we had gross carbon emissions of 7.15 tCO2e and net emissions of 0 tCO2e. From the previous year this is an increase in our gross carbon emissions of 1.97 tCO2e and our net emissions remain the same at 0 tCO2e.
During 2025-26 we:
In 2025-26 we had gross carbon emissions of 6.34 tCO2e and net emissions of 0 tCO2e. From the previous year this is an decrease in our gross carbon emissions of 0.81 tCO2e and our net emissions remain the same.
From 21/22 to 22/23 there were reductions in all our carbon emission areas, except business travel and printed materials for clients. Whilst all other areas had shown a reduction in the figures, we believe this is more to do with learning how to calculate the figures (done by a consultant in our first year and then in house with training the following year) than any of our action. We anticipate a more consistent comparison in future years.
In 2022-23 we had increased business need to travel to see clients. We implemented a travel hierarchy for business travel, and we continue to use this. Our clients also had an increased need for more printed material compared to the previous year.
For 22/23 to 23/24 there was significant reductions in business travel, staff commuting, and client resources (print) used. Both business travel and client print are somewhat out of our control and could increase in future years. Staff commuting came down and our director’s and staff commitment is driving this. We saw significant increase in our data centre storage, and we need to look to reduce this moving forward.
From 23/24 to 24/25 we had increases in electricity, data centre use, business travel and client print. The electricity increase is from the communal areas of our building of which we have little control. Business travel and client print are somewhat out of our control however we should continue to implement our travel hierarchy policy and client need for print is decreasing overall, but perhaps not year on year. We have again seen increase in our data centre storage this year and we need to look to reduce this moving forward. We are continuing to work on a new solution for this.
From 24/25 to 25/26 we had an increase in emissions from gas usage and decrease in electricity, data centre usage, working from home, business travel and client print. Data centre usage decrease is due to a new model of calculation, and we still need to work on reducing our usage here. Gas (increase) and electricity (decrease) are largely out of our control however, we are having secondary glazing fitted which could make a difference to our gas usage.
We have off set our gross carbon emissions by a verified carbon offsetting source, which enables us to achieve net emissions. We will continue to do this every year from now on; however, we also still aim to reduce our gross emissions.
In future years we are planning to grow with increased productivity and staff. This has the potential to increase our carbon emissions in the future.
During 2026-27 we plan to:
This Environment and Sustainability Policy Statement has been approved & authorised by:
Kirstie McKenzie
Managing Director
May 2026
Give us a call on 0115 950 9394 or email info@touchdesign.co.uk