We were delighted to welcome business leaders championing sustainability in the Scottish capital to our Edinburgh office for the quarterly Edinburgh Climate Compact (ECC) meeting.
Hosted by Agilico and energy efficiency champion Warmworks, the gathering underscored the importance of collaboration, communication, and knowledge-sharing among Edinburgh businesses to accelerate progress to the achievement of our net zero goals and drive a circular economy.
The meeting addressed concerns businesses had regarding sustainability and how the Compact can collaborate to support one another at all levels of the sustainability journey.
The ECC set by the Edinburgh Climate Commission (ECCI) is a commitment by Edinburgh’s leading businesses to contribute to a green economy, and radically reduce the city’s carbon emissions. The meeting brought together key organisations committed to tackling climate change, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting a circular economy across industries. Organisations at the meeting included City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, NHS Lothian, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Trams and more.
Jamie Brogan, ECCI Lead, emphasised the power of collective action, saying:
”Collaboration and communication are key in the fight against climate change. The ECC helps businesses in Edinburgh stand together and build a knowledge-sharing network to help drive systemic change that benefits both our communities and the environment.
Jamie BroganHead of Climate Partnerships, ECCI
Alongside Warmworks, we presented our circular-first approach highlighting how we’re leading the transition to net-zero.
At Agilico, we’re committed to sustainability and reducing our environmental impact. We’re working towards Net Zero status by 2030 and aligning our operations with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while championing the circular economy within the managed print sector.
”At Agilico, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to Net Zero by 2030 is not just about reducing our own carbon footprint but also about helping our customers and partners transition to more sustainable practices and sharing best practices with the business community. However, we know that tackling climate change requires collaborative action, and initiatives like the Edinburgh Climate Compact are essential to driving the collective change we need to build a more sustainable and resilient future.
Lynn HarrisonTender Manager, Agilico
Warmworks, a leader in delivering energy-efficient home heating solutions, is equally committed to net zero addressing climate change. The company focuses on helping homes at risk of fuel poverty transition to renewable heating, all while working towards eliminating its direct carbon emissions by 2025 and all indirect emissions by 2030. Warmworks recently completed a transformative project in its Edinburgh office to transition from gas heating to renewable energy and has reduced emissions across all its UK premises by approximately 95% compared to its 2019/20 baseline.
”The Edinburgh Climate Compact is playing a vital leadership role in supporting businesses and the wider community on the journey to net zero. Warmworks has already made its own significant investment in this process through the decarbonisation of our Leith office and the electrification of our vehicle fleet - we have shown that it can be done. We're hopeful that other businesses in Edinburgh and across Scotland will be able to follow suit, supported by the Compact, in taking the next step to make these critical investment decisions.
Ross ArmstrongChief Executive, Warmworks
Following the presentations, we took the ECC members on a tour of our Edinburgh refurbishment and recycling centre, where they witnessed first-hand how we embrace a circular-first approach in extending the lifecycle of Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs). During the visit, they had the opportunity to meet our engineers, gaining valuable insights into our refurbishment process. We showcased some of the steps involved in restoring devices to peak performance, from in-depth inspections to component replacement and rigorous testing. The ECC members were highly engaged, asking questions and showing a real appreciation for our sustainable approach. It was fantastic to see their enthusiasm for the impact we’re making.
Moving away from the traditional ‘take-make-waste’ model, we have demonstrated how sustainable processes can significantly reduce carbon impact while ensuring that refurbished devices meet high-performance and sustainability standards. In the past year our Agilico Zero refurbished devices have saved more than 1600 tonnes of carbon emissions, equating to almost the same carbon footprint caused by driving a typical petrol car 16.3 times around the circumference of the Earth!
With strong commitments from key industry leaders, the Edinburgh Climate Compact continues to serve as a powerful catalyst for meaningful climate action – driving businesses across the city to embrace sustainability, collaborate on best practices, and work toward a net-zero future.
The members of the compact will gather again in June 2025 to discuss the progress made in reducing carbon impact across their organisations and discuss next steps in ensuring a sustainable Edinburgh business community.
