Changing the game for good
At Flutter, we’re changing the game for good through our global sustainability strategy – the Positive Impact Plan. A key pillar of this plan is to Go Zero, driving our path to net-zero carbon and reducing our environmental impact. Our goal is to be net-zero by 2035. That means we are working towards our business operations being free of carbon emissions in just over a decade.
We’re proud to announce that our net-zero targets have been validated by the Science-Based Target initiative (SBTi), positioning us as corporate leaders of the low-carbon transition.
Go Zero explained
Why us? Why now?
This is the crux of the what I'm often asked in relation to our net-zero ambitions. To which I respond… if not us, then who? If not now, then when?
The reality is we all have a role to play in advocating, educating, and acting in relation to climate change. The online betting and gaming sector is no place for exception. Our contribution matters, particularly as the world’s largest operator in our sector, and this is our opportunity to become a climate leader by playing our role in the global decarbonisation journey.
At Flutter, Go Zero is our way of doing right by the planet. Our goal is to reach net-zero by 2035.
Despite a rise in popularity of net-zero targets across nearly all businesses, there hasn't historically been a commonly agreed definition for companies to work to, which has fuelled a lot of confusion and led to varying credibility (sometimes claims of greenwashing) around targets.
We want our ambition to be a trust builder, not a trust buster. That's why we decided to align with the SBTi - a collaboration between CDP (what used to be called the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the We Mean Business Coalition. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets. The SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard is the world’s only framework for corporate net-zero target setting in line with climate.
What gets measured, gets managed
After we made sure our commitment was credible, we needed a defined plan known as a ‘science-based target’, so we could start reducing our emissions. In simple terms, targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they align with what the latest climate science says is needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5°C. So, setting a science-based target is basically a way for companies to link the goals of Paris Agreement to their own tangible measures that can help contribute to the control of global warming.
To track against our target, we need to measure and understand our emissions to take action on them. We also report those emissions, as this helps increase transparency and accountability in global climate action, improves our stakeholder awareness of our carbon footprint, and reveals opportunities to reduce emissions and mitigate climate risks. We align our calculation methodology to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which is the most widely used international carbon accounting framework. Our emissions are categorised into three groups or 'Scopes' - these scopes are a framework that helps organize business activities that produce GHG emissions across our corporate value chain.
Breaking emissions into these more manageable and measurable categories helps us pinpoint the sources of our emissions—for example, retail shops, offices, vehicles, commuting, business travel—and the most significant opportunities for reductions. The better we understand an emissions source—and whether we directly or indirectly control that source— the better we can measure, then mitigate those emissions to reduce our impact.
Scopes 1 and 2 covers direct and indirect emissions that result from activities within our organisation's control (e.g. fuel combustion, or company vehicles) and from electricity that we purchase and use. But then what’s left? The short answer is A LOT. Namely, the complicated stuff. Scope 3 covers emissions that originate from our wider value chain, that we don’t have direct control over - this is where the real battle for net-zero will be won or lost. Acting on Scope 3 is the vehicle to drive change because it’s where everyone plays their part in influencing down the supply chain – creating the global momentum needed to make a difference. That’s why our partnership with our suppliers will be critical to us delivering our Go Zero plan, and why we’ll seek to ensure we’re partnering with suppliers to make the changes necessary to decarbonize their own businesses.
As part of our roadmap to net-zero, we've outlined six key areas of intervention that we will focus our reduction activity on. We will prioritise direct emissions first (decarbonization), taking action to get as close to zero as possible (90% reduction). Any remaining emissions would then be balanced out with an equivalent amount of carbon removal. Only then can we say we've reached net-zero emissions.
In summary
Climate change – yes, it's a global problem, but no, we won't say 'not our problem'.
Science-based targets - it sounds complicated, but if a job's worth doing, it’s worth doing well. And we're immensely proud that our targets have been approved by SBTi.
Reaching net-zero - it's challenge, and we're up for it!
Why us? Why now? - Well, if not us, then who? If not now, then when?
Our journey has begun. See you on the (soon-to-be greener) other side.
Check out SBTi's "Companies Taking Action" section on their website, which showcases companies' progress divided by industry, location, and dedication level.
See Our latest annual report (pg. 32-42) for overview of our Go Zero Pillar, including a full breakdown of our emissions and roadmap to net zero.
See our SBTi announcement here.
