Sustainability

Our Commitment To Sustainability

We’re on a mission to achieve net-zero carbon emissions (scope 1 & 2) by 2032, and continuously support our customers sustainability ambitions

Carbon neutral since 2025

We are proud that our work allows us to impact people’s lives positively, but we are acutely aware of our industry’s environmental impact on the planet.

Since 2025, Garland UK achieved carbon neutral status and is on the road to net-zero, aligned to a 1.5°C pathway.

As industry leaders, we believe we are responsible for spearheading positive change, introducing best practices throughout our approved contractors and helping lead our industry to do the right thing.

Our Targets

Throughout this journey, we will promote innovative sustainable waterproofing systems, responsible sourcing, and circular economy principles that maximise the value of the materials we use and minimise life cycle waste.

Through our long-standing partnerships, we will provide a lasting positive social impact on the communities in which we operate. We will put our people and contractors at the heart of everything we do, supporting their professional development to provide trusted technical expertise in a fair, inclusive, and respectful culture, promoting equality, diversity, inclusion, and good well-being.

Near-term target:

Absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 45%, based on our baseline year, by 2032.

Long-term target:

Absolute reduction in all three scopes of 90% by 2050.

The 3 Key Pillars of our Sustainability Commitment

We embed sustainability into everything we do, by reducing our own carbon footprint and our customer’s operational carbon.

Carbon

We will reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout our business and supply chain. We will support our customers to reduce their operational and whole-life carbon whilst maximising the environmental benefits of their roofing assets.

Resource Efficiency & Waste

We will reduce our waste to landfill and increase the use of recycled, reused and recyclable materials within our projects. We will provide our customers with transparent data regarding our waste management, resource efficiency, circular economy.

People

All employees receive relevant sustainability training. We will engage with our supply chain and communities, supporting apprenticeships and creating wider social value through our Approved Contractor network.

Sustainability Report 2024

We’re proud to share our latest Sustainability Report, highlights a 7% drop in emissions, a 19.5% waste reduction, and continued investment in our people and partners.

Built around our three core pillars, Carbon, Resource Efficiency & Waste, and People, the report showcases our progress, evolving roadmap and how we’re helping clients meet their sustainability goals.

-7%

Total GHG emissions compared to 2023

19.5%

Decrease of total waste in 2023 vs. 2024

ZERO

Waste to landfill in 2024

Sustainability that supports your building

Our approach to sustainability focuses on practical outcomes that improve building performance, reduce operational impact, and support long-term asset management. From lower embodied carbon to improved thermal efficiency, we help customers make more informed decisions for their buildings and estates.

Lower operational carbon
Fabric-first refurbishment, solar PV, and thermally efficient systems designed to reduce operational impact.

Long-term building value
Durable roofing solutions that support lifecycle planning, lower maintenance demand, and responsible asset management.

Positive community impact
Through apprenticeships, responsible procurement, and knowledge sharing, we aim to create a positive impact beyond the roof itself.

Frequent Questions

Many of our customers have questions relating to our commitment to a more sustainable future.

What is carbon neutral?

Carbon Neutral refers to any carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from a company’s activities, which is then balanced by an equivalent amount of carbon being removed from the atmosphere. Carbon offsets can be sought to achieve this, with a minimum requirement to meet Scope 1 & 2 emissions only. Green roofs are considered effective in the reduction of atmospheric CO2 because of their ability to absorb CO2 and reduce a building’s overall energy consumption.

What is net-zero carbon?

Taking one step further than Carbon Neutral, Net-Zero Carbon also achieves a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from it, but it must span across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. A critical difference is that all efforts must be made to mitigate carbon across the business before offsetting the small amount remaining that is unable to be avoided.

What are the three scopes of emissions?
  • Scope 1 covers all direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.
  • Source 2 factors the indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, heating etc., consumed by the business.
  • Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions in a business’s supply chain.
What is operational carbon?

Operational Carbon is the amount of carbon emitted during the operational and daily use of a building. Sustainably designed roofing projects can significantly reduce operational carbon by including Green roofs and solar PV systems.

What is embodied carbon?

Embodied Carbon is the amount of carbon emitted associated with building construction, including the extraction, transportation, manufacture and installation of materials. Sustainably designed roofing projects can significantly reduce embodied carbon by including long-life systems (such as metal roof panels) that can be used for the life of a building, avoiding regular replacement and mitigating waste to landfill.

Is a metal roof system sustainable?

An R-MER metal system is manufactured from up to 55% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life, making it a highly sustainable roofing system.

Is a green roof system sustainable?

Green Shield green roof system will improve air quality and provide natural habitats that encourage biodiversity. Green roofs help to keep buildings cool, reducing energy consumption and costs, making it a highly sustainable roofing system.

Are solar PV panels suitable for sustainable roofing?

Solarise PV panel system reduces the carbon output of a building by utilising renewable solar power energy rather than other energy sources such as electricity or gas. Solar PV panels significantly reduce the operational carbon of a building, making it highly suitable for sustainable roofing.

Join Us on the Journey to Net-Zero

Partner with the UK’s only 100% employee-owned roofing company committed to net-zero carbon by 2032. Let’s build a sustainable future together.