Blog / ESG VMI Achieves 47% CO2 Reduction in 2024 – On Track for Net Zero by 2030 24 June 2025 — by Barry Bassett At VMI, our commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2030 is more than just words – it’s a measurable, transparent journey. Every year, we rigorously reduce our emissions and openly publish the results on our website for all to see. We’ve just completed our fifth carbon audit for 2024, independently assessed and verified by Creative Zero, and the results are truly encouraging. Compared to 2023, we have cut our operational carbon footprint by an impressive 47% – a testament to the persistent efforts of our team and partners who share our sustainability vision. A Closer Look at the Numbers Our total carbon footprint for 2024 – including relevant Scope 3 emissions but excluding capital expenditure – stands at 85.3 tCO2e. To put that into perspective: That’s the equivalent of 250 return economy flights from London to Barcelona. Or driving a petrol car from Land’s End to John O’Groats and back 128 times. Or the total carbon footprint of the average UK citizen over seven years. While this result exceeded our expectations, it could have been even better. A portion of the footprint was attributed to Octopus Energy’s ‘Green Gas’ tariff – which, despite its name, we found out this year wasn’t entirely emissions-free and we have madea formal complaint about its misleading name. This highlighted the importance of scrutinising supply chains and services more closely – another learning milestone on our path to Net Zero. Reflecting on Our Progress This is VMI’s fifth carbon audit, and during the process we uncovered some discrepancies in earlier reports. Rather than retrofitting or adjusting historic data, we’ve chosen a transparent approach: a clear chart showing total carbon emissions (including CapEx) from 2019 to 2024, along with our future reduction targets aligned with the Race to Zero SME Climate Commitment pathway. We’ve already achieved a 39% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2019, keeping us firmly on track to reach (and possibly exceed) the 50% reduction target well before 2030. Even if full Net Zero by 2030 proves challenging, this progress shows that significant, measurable reductions are entirely achievable. Staying Accountable As always, you can download and read the full 2024 Carbon Audit Report here for complete transparency. This chart demonstrates the total historic emissions from 2019 to 2024 and plots future emissions targets with a pathway aligned with the Race to Zero SME Climate Commitment. The Commitment is to halve all emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050. VMI has already reached a 39% reduction in scopes 1 & 2 since 2019. This demonstrates that VMI can push to reach 50% reductions well before 2030, even if it does not achieve full Net Zero by 2030. Continuation of Carbon Neutrality by Investing into a Deforestation Project in Paraguay We remain fully committed to reducing emissions every single year and hitting our Net Zero by 2030 target. This year’s milestone proves that determined action and honest reporting deliver real impact – not just promises. Ecologi confirms that all 2024 emissions have been offset in an Albert-certified project to ensure that VMI remains Carbon Neutral since 2022. The choice of scheme decided by a poll conducted amongst VMI’s staff and clients in May 2025, to prevent deforestation in Paraguay. Thank you to all our staff, clients, and suppliers who continue to support our sustainability journey. Together, we can create meaningful change.