Glossary of terms
ESG A-Z
Biodiversity Net Gain Increasing the amount of biodiversity in a given area over time through development that creates new habitats, restores degraded ecosystems or enhances existing ones.
Biophilic design An approach to architecture and interior design that incorporates natural elements, such as plants, natural light and water, to create a healthier and more productive environment. It aims to enhance human connections to nature and promote well-being.
Carbon sequestration schemes Practices or projects that aim to capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to mitigate climate change. Examples include afforestation, reforestation, and soil carbon sequestration through regenerative agriculture practices.
Circular Economy An economic system designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources.
Environmental Net Gain A concept that seeks to ensure that development results in a net gain in biodiversity and ecosystem services.
ESG ratings agencies Firms that evaluate companies and their ESG practices and provide ratings used by investors and stakeholders to assess a company's sustainability performance and risks.
ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard A global framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving energy management systems in organisations to improve energy performance, reduce costs and mitigate climate change impacts.
Low-carbon heat pumps Use renewable electricity sources to extract and distribute heat from air, ground, or water, emitting much lower carbon emissions than traditional heating systems, improving energy efficiency in buildings.
Mitie Foundation Learn more at www.mitie.com/mitie-foundation
Nature-based carbon credits Carbon offset generated through the preservation or restoration of natural ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, or grasslands, that sequester carbon. The credits are purchased by companies or individuals to compensate for their own carbon emissions and to support conservation efforts.
Plan Zero Focused on specific targets to eliminate our carbon emissions from power and transport, eradicate our non-sustainable waste and enhance our inefficient buildings to meet the highest environmental standards – see more at www.mitie.com/planzero
Science of Service® Our unique approach combines industry-leading innovation with data-driven insight to improve our own processes and create solutions for our customers – see more at www.mitie.com/the-science-of-service/
Science-Based Targets Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Scope 1/2/3 Categories of greenhouse gas emissions used to measure the carbon footprint of an organisation or product.
Social value In terms of ESG, social value refers to the positive social impacts that a company or organisation creates for its stakeholders, including employees, customers, communities, and society at large. Social value is an important component of a company's ESG performance and long-term business success.
Supplier Management Framework (SMF)
How we manage performance across 200 strategic partner suppliers, ensuring they align with Mitie’s priorities in sustainability.
Sustainability Facilities Management Index (SFMI) Assessment and benchmarking within the FM sector – see more at www.acclaro-advisory.com/sfmi/
Sustainability Supply Chain School An online learning platform and community aimed at promoting sustainability and social responsibility in the construction and built environment supply chain – see more at www.supplychainschool.co.uk
UK Government's Social Value Model
A framework for public sector procurement that aims to ensure that government contracts are awarded not only based on price and quality but also based on the social and environmental benefits that can be achieved via the contract.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Aim to protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all and calls on governments and business to contribute towards their achievement.
Waste hierarchy A concept that prioritises waste management practices in order of environmental impact: prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and dispose. Eliminating waste generation at the source is key to minimising the amount of waste that needs to be managed.
Waste Match A platform for sharing, donating, reusing and re-engineering assets. The portal allows users to share surplus assets and get access to hundreds of other pre-owned goods – see more at www.wastematch.co.uk