Housing association Orbit has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to tackling climate change with a refreshed Net Zero Carbon Roadmap.
The revised roadmap, which also reflects the organisation’s commitment to place tenants at the heart of its sustainability journey, sets out Orbit’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2030, and to reach net zero carbon across its operations, homes, and supply chain by 2050.
This latest version of the roadmap builds on progress made since its initial launch in 2021 and strives to ensure that affordability and resident well-being remain central to its decarbonisation efforts in line with Orbit’s 2030 strategy.
Afzal Ismail, Orbit’s chief regulatory and governance officer, said: “Our refreshed Net Zero Carbon Roadmap reflects both the progress we’ve made and the challenges that lie ahead.
“Since launching our Net Zero Carbon Roadmap in 2021, the urgency of the climate crisis has only intensified. This refreshed roadmap marks an important step in our journey towards becoming carbon neutral in our operations by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon across our operations, customers’ homes, and supply chain by 2050.
“We remain firmly focused on delivering this ambition while ensuring that our customers are fully supported – today and in the future.”
Orbit says it has already made substantial progress against its aims with key successes including:
- Reduction of its carbon footprint across scopes 1 and 2 by 39.7% during 2023/24
- Switching to biofuels at its construction sites avoided 459tCO2e in 2022/23 and 430tCO2e in 2023/24
- Transitioning to REGO-backed green electricity, avoiding 2,564 tCO₂e emissions
- Over 85% of existing homes now rated EPC C or above, targeting 100% by 2030
- Delivered £1m of energy savings for tenants
Looking to the future, Orbit plans to improve the energy efficiency of its homes through extensive retrofitting, and is exploring the installation of solar panels to help reduce electricity costs.
All new homes built from April 2026 will meet an ‘A’ Environmental Impact Rating, the organisation says. Furthermore, Orbit is “actively preparing” for climate risks such as overheating and flooding through a range of proactive resilience measures.
Orbit also recognises that a significant portion of its emissions originate from its supply chain, accounting for around 60% of its total greenhouse gas footprint. In response, the organisation is working closely with its top suppliers to set their own net zero targets, integrating environmental requirements into procurement processes and conducting CO₂ heat mapping to focus on the most carbon-intensive areas.
To complement its emissions reduction strategy, Orbit will also begin piloting local carbon offset projects with a strong emphasis on biodiversity. These initiatives will support natural regeneration efforts and align with the Wildlife Trusts’ ‘30by30’ campaign to enhance green spaces. Customers will be invited to take part in these projects to encourage greater community involvement and environmental stewardship.
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