UPDATE: as of January 2025, we no longer have a time-specific net zero target, although we are continuing to reduce our emissions year-on-year. The background to and reasons for this decision are explained in Ben’s blog post Confessions of a net zero committer.
As you’ll see in the Studio 91 Manifesto, one of our three key values is producing content in a way that is good for the planet. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is just one of the ways that we are doing good for the planet:
- We donate at least 1% of our turnover to environmental causes
- We offset our emissions and support climate action through ON A MISSION, and all staff are trained in Carbon Literacy
- We are on track to reduce our CO2e emissions each year
What is Net Zero?
Net Zero means a massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has committed to reaching this target by 2050, but the truth is we don’t really know whether that’s enough to stop the global temperature rising above 1.5ºC. We don’t even know for sure how safe a 1.5ºC increase will be.
Put simply, net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.
UN Climate Action
We need unprecedented change from all the major players on the world stage. But as a small and agile business that cares about the planet and the people on it, we have an opportunity to lead the way. That’s why we’re able to commit to reaching Net Zero by 2025, decades before the UK target.
What is Studio 91’s carbon footprint?
If you’ve been around the Net Zero conversation, you’ll be familiar with the three scopes. We don’t have any Scope 1 emissions, since this relates to directly burning fossil fuels (e.g. with company vehicles or gas heating). The majority of our emissions in Scope 3, which covers things like business travel and purchased good and services.
| Year | Scope 1 (tonnes CO₂e) | Scope 2 (tonnes CO₂e) | Scope 3 (tonnes CO₂e) | Total absolute emissions | Carbon intensity (tonnes CO₂e per $M revenue) |
| 2021-22 | 0 | 1.05 | 7.75 | 8.80 | 59.9 |
| 2022-23 | 0 | 1.92 | 9.68 | 11.60 | 54.2 |
| 2023-24 | 0 | 0.32 | 5.55 | 5.87 | 35.0 |
Some of the 15 Scope 3 categories are not included in our calculations. This is because they either don’t apply to us or would be negligible. The categories included in our Scope 3 emissions are:
- Category 1 – Purchased goods and services
- Category 2 – Capital goods
- Category 3 – Fuel- and energy-related activities
- Category 6 – Business travel
What’s the plan, and where are we up to?
As of January 2025, we no longer feel comfortable to have a time-specific target as a small low-carbon business. We were unable to meet our original 2025 net zero target because of the requirement to reduce emissions by 90%. This is much easier said than done when your emissions are relatively low to begin with. Our baseline total was 8.8 tonnes CO₂e; that’s 99.5% lower than the benchmark for our industry. So far we have managed to reduce our absolute emissions by 33% and our carbon intensity by 40%.
Completed:
- Train all our staff in carbon literacy
- Publish transition plan on our website
- Use energy backed by 100% renewable sources
- Reduce use of employees’ own cars for film shoots; prioritise use of public transport, Enterprise Car Club EVs, and walking/cycling
In progress:
- Actively pursue client projects in our local area rather than nationally
- Review our net zero plan annually at the start of each financial year (April onwards) and publish an impact report in line with our B Corp certification
- Stop using employees’ petrol and diesel cars to travel to shoots
Blockers:
- Large proportion of emissions are from the purchase of IT/camera equipment, sources that are very difficult for us to control
- Difficult to achieve a 90% reduction on an already very low carbon footprint
- Reliance on a UK energy mix that is not 100% renewable, even though we are using a 100% renewable tariff
Race to Zero
Our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2025 was made as part of the Race to Zero campaign. The campaign requires a recommitment every year, and as of 2023 includes a ‘Persuade’ element. This is all about lining up the organisation’s commitment with their comms and lobbying activity.
In addition to our Net Zero pledge, Studio 91 will ensure that our public communications and any engagement or lobbying that we participate in directly or through trade associations will align with our Net Zero ambitions at a local, sectoral or national level.
Who is reponsible?
As with all big change, this has to be a team effort with buy-in from the whole Studio 91 team and support from partners like the Better Business Network. Ben Horrigan (Studio 91’s Managing Director) is the key person responsible for deciding and implementing this Net Zero plan.