Carbon Reduction Plan

Introduction

Ortus is committed to reducing carbon emissions and minimising its environmental impact. This Social Value Delivery Plan outlines our strategies and initiatives to achieve emissions reduction targets and promote sustainability within our organisation.

1. Current Emissions Reduction Initiatives

1.1 Home-Based Team Members

We recognise that home-based team members reduce carbon emissions from daily commutes. By working remotely, team members help minimise the need for driving or using public transport, resulting in reduced carbon footprint.

1.2 Encouraging Public Transport

For occasions when team members need to commute, such as team days or customer visits, we encourage the use of public transport as a more sustainable alternative to individual vehicles.

1.3 Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Ortus promotes the use of electric and/or hybrid vehicles among team members, which emit fewer carbon emissions compared to traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.

1.4 Carbon-Neutral Cloud-Based System

Our digital platform operates on a centrally hosted and carbon-neutral cloud-based system, aligning with the Government’s Cloud First Agenda. This choice is more energy-efficient than using multiple servers, contributing to overall emissions reduction.

1.5 Yearly Reduction Comparison

We are committed to tracking our progress in emissions reduction. A yearly reduction comparison from 2024 to 2025 will be conducted to assess our carbon footprint reduction achievements.

2 Future Carbon Reduction Projects

2.1 ISO14001 Certification

Ortus-iHealth plans to pursue ISO14001 certification to assess and register our Environmental Management System (EMS) against the ISO standard. This certification will help us identify opportunities for further reducing our environmental impact and promote sustainable practices across the organisation.

2.2 Environmentally Friendly Office Spaces

As Ortus expands, we may consider using office spaces or shared office spaces for collaborative working. If such a need arises, we will prioritise environmentally friendly options when reviewing potential office spaces, considering sustainability features and energy efficiency.

3 Emissions Reduction Targets

3.1 5-Year Carbon Reduction Goal

Ortus sets a clear objective to reduce carbon emissions by 20% over the next 5 years. This ambitious target will guide our efforts in implementing new initiatives and improving existing practices to achieve meaningful and measurable results.

4 Review and Update

4.1 Annual Policy Review

To ensure the effectiveness of our emissions reduction efforts, this policy will be reviewed annually. The first review will take place in September 2025. This regular assessment allows us to make data-driven decisions, identify areas for improvement, and align our strategies with emerging sustainability practices.

Conclusion

Ortus is dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment through proactive emissions reduction initiatives. By implementing sustainable practices, adopting carbon-neutral technologies, and pursuing ISO14001 certification, we are committed to fulfilling our social value of promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving our social value and associated delivery plan, Ortus will work with the authority to support additional initiatives identified as priority, where we can look to add additional value. This will be done by engaging and collaborating with relevant stakeholders from the authority, as well as local Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprises (VCSEs), including those focussed on improving experiences and outcomes for communities at risk of marginalisation with the introduction of technology-enabled pathways.