Carbon Reduction Plan
Published in accordance with PPN 06/21 — Procurement Policy Note: Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts
Committed to Net Zero by 2050Net Zero commitment
The Autism Assessment Service Ltd is fully committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across our operations by 2050, in line with the UK Government's legally binding target under the Climate Change Act 2008 (as amended). We recognise the role that NHS suppliers and subcontractors must play in supporting the NHS Net Zero ambition and the wider national carbon reduction agenda.
We, The Autism Assessment Service Ltd, commit to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to reducing our emissions by at least 50% by 2030 against our 2024/25 baseline. This commitment applies to all our direct operations and, where practicable, to our supply chain and associate clinician network.
Baseline emissions — reporting year 2024/25
Emissions have been calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the UK Government's Environmental Reporting Guidelines (2019), using DEFRA conversion factors (2024). The baseline covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Total baseline emissions: 17.9 tonnes CO₂e. All three scopes are reported as required by PPN 06/21, calculated using the GHG Protocol methodology and DEFRA 2024 conversion factors.
Reduction targets
| Target year | Reduction vs baseline | Key actions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15% (15.2 tCO₂e) | Embed virtual-first assessment model; clinician travel policy update | In progress |
| 2028 | 30% (12.5 tCO₂e) | Fully renewable electricity; EV preference policy for associate clinicians | Planned |
| 2030 | 50% (9.0 tCO₂e) | Scope 3 supply chain engagement; sustainable procurement policy | Planned |
| 2040 | 75% (4.5 tCO₂e) | Near-zero travel emissions; residual offset programme | Planned |
| 2050 | Net Zero | Elimination of all remaining emissions; verified offsetting for residual | Committed |
Environmental management measures for this contract
The following measures will be applied in the delivery of autism assessment services under this NHS contract:
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Virtual-first assessment pathway. Where clinically appropriate and agreed with the commissioning NHS body, assessments will be conducted virtually (video/telephone), reducing travel-associated emissions and increasing accessibility for patients.
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Travel planning for in-person visits. Associate clinicians are encouraged to use public transport, to cluster appointments geographically, and to adopt lower-emission vehicles. We will record and monitor clinician travel miles annually.
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Paperless clinical records. All case notes, reports, and referral documentation are managed digitally through our secure clinical platform, eliminating paper-based administration and courier requirements.
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Sustainable procurement. We will give preference to suppliers and service providers who can demonstrate environmental credentials, including cloud hosting providers committed to renewable energy.
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Annual emissions monitoring and reporting. We will measure and report our Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions annually, publishing an updated Carbon Reduction Plan each year. Progress against targets will be reviewed by senior leadership.
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Clinician engagement. We will communicate our Carbon Reduction Plan to all ~25 associate clinicians and embed environmental responsibility into our associate agreement and induction process.
This Carbon Reduction Plan is published on the Autism Assessment Service website in accordance with PPN 06/21 requirements.