Achieving Net Zero Emissions


How are we going to become a Net Zero company?

Climate change is a serious issue that’s affecting each and every one of us. We acknowledge that our operations influence the local, regional and global environment, which is why we’ve set a target to have Net Zero direct emissions by 2030. This supports the ambitious goal of limiting the rise in the average global temperature to 1.5oC as set out in the UN Paris Agreement.

As a family run and owned business, we may not always have the ability to influence all parts of our supply chain; however, this doesn’t prevent us from reducing the impact of our sites, vehicles and how we operate. Our carbon reduction strategy ensures we can meet our future scope 1 & 2 ambitions without the need for large scale offsetting.

While we continue on this path, Crown Oil is actively investigating a range of environmental commitments and pledges relevant to our business, such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which is currently developing a methodology specifically for the oil & gas sector.

Our first big milestone in this journey was reaching carbon neutral status in 2022 in line with PAS 2060, which was replaced with the ISO 14068 standard in 2025.

Pioneering change

Instead of waiting for mandatory environmental changes to come to us, we’re getting ahead of the curve and investing in sustainability.

We’ve partnered with an external consultancy to validate our reporting, understand our environmental impact and measure our performance annually. This has allowed us to consider every angle of our internal and external processes to become truly sustainable and reduce our environmental impact, including reducing our emissions through a target-driven plan and providing qualifying explanatory statements with full public disclosure.

As a family run company, we may not always have the ability to influence all parts of our supply chain; however, this doesn’t prevent us from reducing the impact of our sites, vehicles and how we operate. Our carbon reduction strategy ensures we can meet our future scope 1 & 2 ambitions without the need for large scale offsetting.

Reaching net zero is one of the biggest challenges we’ll face

But that’s not stopping us. Net zero requires every single one of us to do our bit; to think and to act differently and to make better, more informed choices. As an organisation, we will inform, engage and empower our staff to be champion sustainability and to support everyone we work with to play their bit in reducing their emissions.

Involving staff in our goals and mission is key to ensure everyone’s onboard. To embed sustainability company-wide, we’ve completed a full change program; we’ve delivered 800+ hours of staff training, led by our MD, and formed a sustainability team made up of passionate senior managers and volunteers from across the group. All team members are undergoing sustainability training and are given time out of their roles to seek ways to improve efficiency and processes while continually reducing our environmental impact.

Emission targets

Our short-term target is to achieve a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes by 2028.

Our long-term targets are to:

  • Achieve operational net zero for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2030
  • Reduce scope 3 emissions by 75% to 1,472 tCO2e by 2040
  • Complete net zero, including only residual emissions for scope 3 by 2050

How have we achieved carbon neutrality?

We are in our fourth year of reporting, previously being certified ISO 14068 carbon neutral following official BSI audits on ISO 14064-1 and third-party ISO 14068 verification. Our strategy involves continuous emission monitoring, reduction efforts and offsetting through credible projects, all while balancing environmental responsibility with financial sustainability.

We have achieved carbon neutrality by emissions that we can reduce or avoid and by purchasing and retiring a diverse portfolio of carbon credits, adhering to the stringent criteria outlined in Chapter 11 of the BS ISO 14068-1:2023 standard. These carbon credits were sourced from verified projects that ensure real, additional, measurable, and permanent GHG emission reductions or removal enhancements.

We will continue to calculate our organisational carbon footprint annually using BS EN ISO 14064-1 and the GHG Protocol, covering scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3 emissions.

Our net zero journey so far

  • 2007

    – Began voluntarily offsetting delivery emissions

  • 2018

    Invested in HVO

  • 2020

    – Baseline emissions recorded
    – Carbon reduction strategy developed

  • 2021

    – Switched fleet to HVO
    – Won UKIFDA Green Award
    – Began office efficiency upgrades

  • 2022

    – Certified carbon neutral (PAS 2060)
    – Began company initiatives
    – Launched sustainability site
    – Offered offsetting on all fuels

  • 2023

    – All owned offices on renewable tariffs
    – Upgraded insulation & heating
    – Installed EV chargers for staff use
    – Installed solar panels on all buildings
    – GHG verified to ISO 14064-1

  • 2025

    – Certified carbon neutral (ISO 14068)
    – Solar car ports at head office
    – Battery storage at head offices

  • 2028

    – 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes
    – Fuel pumps will all be upgraded
    – All small vehicles will be electric

  • 2030

    Operational net zero for scope 1 and scope 2

  • 2040

    Reduce scope 3 emissions by 75% to 1,472 tCO2e

  • 2050

    Complete net zero, including only residual emissions for scope 3

Fuelling change with HVO

In 2020 we became the first UK fuel supplier to import Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) into the UK market as we felt we have a duty to provide more renewable and sustainable fuel alternatives to our customers. Since then, we’ve not only become the UK’s largest alternative fuel supplier but also the first UK fuel supplier to be certified carbon neutral.

We aim to drive positive change throughout the fuel supply process, from the sustainable sourcing of our products’ key raw materials to reducing our operational impact and cutting our customers’ carbon footprint.

As well as improving our own environmental impact, we’re continuing to drive innovation and are working with a range of sectors to reduce emissions by providing the clean-burning fuels our customers need.

In 2020, the oil companies within the Crown Group became the first UK fuel suppliers to run our entire delivery fleet on HVO