ICMIF member Simplyhealth, a provider of health plans across the UK, has achieved Carbon Neutral + status from March 2021 for 12 months with Carbon Footprint Ltd.

The status was achieved by cutting carbon emissions and then offsetting the remaining emissions whilst supporting three international energy efficiency projects aimed at helping communities in other parts of the world. These include a project in Sudan, which replaces stone fires with fuel efficient stoves, reduced deforestation and forest degradation in Brazil, and a borehole rehabilitation project in Uganda. In addition, Simplyhealth plans to plant some 500 trees in the UK in 2021.

To lower the mutual’s carbon emissions, Simplyhealth purchases electricity which is independently certified as 100% ‘green’ under the Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) scheme and proactively manage the reduction of its remaining emissions through Simplyhealth’s All Together Healthier project by, for example, switching its Fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles, sending zero waste to landfill, recycling as much of waste as technically possible and recycling all computers and electrical waste. When calculating its carbon emissions, Simplyhealth includes all of its direct and indirect emissions including the carbon emissions created by colleagues working from home.

Gareth Williams, Director of Facilities and Environment at Simplyhealth said: “We are delighted to have achieved Carbon Neutral + status again in 2021 and that we have the opportunity to contribute to some innovative projects that are committed to making a positive impact on local communities and the environment in other parts of the world. At Simplyhealth, we understand that it is our responsibility to protect the resources and ecosystem of the planet upon which we are all dependent.”