Our Carbon Reduction Plan: Progress Update

Back in 2021 we joined up to the UN’s Race to Zero.  Race to Zero was a global campaign to gather leadership and support for a healthy, resilient zero carbon recovery. We committed to being carbon neutral by 2022 and to achieve net zero by 2030.

In 2021 we set out to understand what our emissions were by establishing a baseline. We worked with Climate Essentials to help us map Collective Works’ emissions. We looked at scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, calculating our emissions from energy, transport, products, services and waste. Our 2020 baseline figure came out at 9,149kgCO2e. 

Our 2026 Carbon Footprint

We have again worked with Climate Essentials to assess our carbon footprint

Last year we moved to a net zero carbon office, meaning our scope 1 emissions (direct emissions from the burning of fossil fuels – eg a boiler) are now practically zero. We reused all our furniture when we moved office, giving it a new life in our new home.

We encourage all our staff to use public transport and cycle to work and to meetings and site visits where possible. However, we also work nationally and internationally, and there are times when a motorbike, car or plane is the most efficient way to get to a site. Our transport emissions made up 25% of our company footprint at 2,923 kgCO2e. 

As a service provider, we generate very little waste. This means that the bulk of our carbon impact is from delivering our architectural services. 

Our total 2026 carbon footprint is 11,365 kgCO2e.  That’s roughly equivalent to driving 3 petrol cars for a year, 33 return flights to Barcelona or charging a smartphone 2.6million times.

Carbon emissions in context

On the face of it – we are now bigger emitters than we were in 2020.  But let’s put the numbers in context. We have grown in the past 5 years – to a company of 9 in 2025 (from 7 in 2020), and have also increased our turnover.

Our carbon intensity by revenue has been cut in half – from 0.064 kgCO2e to 0.03 kgCO2e. In real terms, our carbon footprint is reducing. 

Our Carbon Reduction Plan

You can read our Carbon Reduction Plan here.

Towards net zero 

Recognising progress, but also responsibility for our emissions whatever the size of the business, we have now made a leadership commitment to offset all of our emissions since 2020 and budget an annual contribution to ensure we can offset our future emissions to match the amount of CO2e reported. We are working with Earthly to help fund decarbonisation schemes that we believe will have a positive impact on reducing the carbon in our atmosphere.

For 2025 and 2026 we’re investing in the world largest blue carbon project, Mangrove Restoration of the Indus Delta, Pakistan. Mangroves sequester carbon significantly faster and more densely than most other ecosystems, and the co-benefits are exceptional: coastal protection, biodiversity restoration, and direct support for local fishing communities. It is carbon removal, not just avoidance, which is the gold standard. The scheme also aligns strongly with our values as a practice that cares about the built and natural environment.

For our baseline year 2020, and four interim years (2021,2022, 2023 and 2024) we’re investing in Forest Management and Reforestation, spanning 23,435 hectares in Ejido Caoba, Quintana Roo, a long-term project delivering carbon removal through sustainable forest management and native reforestation. Active for 100 years, it is led by a local ejido under Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines.

Practice Projects People

This carbon footprint looks solely at the impacts of Collective Works as a practice. However, we are part of an industry that is responsible for 25% the UKs carbon emissions. Every project we contribute to has its own environmental impact. Knowing this, we put low carbon design at the forefront of our design process. We advocate for natural materials, local suppliers, retrofit and reuse in every project, encouraging our clients and our supply chains to make more sustainable choices. 

As individuals we also have an impact. We will continue to advocate for a more sustainable industry through our work with Architects Declare, as members of the Regenerative Architects Index and by sharing our experiences of low carbon architecture.