PDMS' journey to Net Zero with Sustainable Mann

At PDMS, we're committed to making a positive environmental impact. This year, we've made significant strides in our journey towards a sustainable future through a range of projects and ongoing initiatives.

In October, our team attended a series of workshops to achieve the Sustainable Mann certification, which helps us on our way to reducing our environmental footprint in line with our broader goal of reaching net zero by 2050. 

Sustainable Mann

The Sustainable Mann accreditation, facilitated by Earthscope Isle of Man in partnership with Biosphere Isle of Man, equips businesses on the island with the knowledge and tools to become more sustainable. Hannah Williams and Simon Edwards attended seven in-depth workshops covering various aspects of sustainability: 

1. Innovation - Exploring new ideas to boost environmental efforts
2. Nature - Finding ways to enhance and protect local biodiversity
3. Green Marketing - Communicating sustainability authentically
4. Waste - Focusing on responsible waste management
5. Circular Economy - Reducing waste by reusing resources
6. Climate and Energy - Sharing strategies to lower emissions and energy use
7. Legal and Fiduciary  - Ensuring sustainable practices align with legal responsibilities

These sessions gave us practical insights and innovative ideas to incorporate into our own strategy, helping us implement lasting environmental change at PDMS. We would highly recommend the Sustainable Mann certification as it covers a broad range of thought-provoking and practical ideas to kickstart your sustainability!

Progress towards sustainability

Renewable energy 

One of our most impactful achievements has been our investment in solar power at our Isle of Man headquarters with rooftop solar panels which have been active since mid-2022. By the end of 2023, our solar panels had generated an impressive 22.06 MWh of energy and we've achieved 42.8 MWh to date. This has saved 16,793kg of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of planting around 500 trees. Though this year hasn’t been the sunniest, we’re proud to have already generated 19.90 MWh in 2024 so far.

Our founder, Chris Gledhill, who also leads on climate initiatives for the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, recently hosted a session to share our solar power journey and encourage other businesses to consider this clean energy solution. By sharing our practical case study, Chris aimed to inspire others across the Isle of Man to adopt renewable energy, both in workplaces and at home. You can read more about it in our write-up from the event. 

Building a greener future with local initiatives

In addition to our solar power, we've been involved in a range of projects to benefit the local environment: 

• Tree planting  - We were part of the Island's first carbon credit project which focused on planting trees to offset carbon emissions
• Treekly step challenge - In May, our teams in the Isle of Man and Glasgow participated in a step challenge which contributed to our total of over 400 trees being planted through the Treekly app
• ISO 14001 certification - This environmental management standard ensures that our processes continually improve in alignment with sustainability goals
• Sustainable waste management - We've partnered with Recycle Collect to streamline and improve our internal waste management
• Manx BirdLife - We partnered with the local wildlife charity to support the re-establishment of native habitats in the north of the island

Next steps to Net Zero 

We’ve begun tracking our carbon emissions in an effort to measure our impact, but we know that further reduction will require a thoughtful approach and significant action. While we’re proud of the progress we’ve made, there’s still work to do, and we’re committed to making sustainable choices that align with the values of our community and the planet. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in working towards a sustainable future.

To find out more about our work in the local community, visit our Social Responsibility page