Environmental Perfomance Report

Our Climate Commitment

As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible business practices, RTH ltd is proud to present this environmental report in alignment with the UK SME Climate Commitment. By joining thousands of enterprises across the UK in 2024, we have pledged to take decisive action to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 and disclose our progress on an annual basis.

In doing so, we are also recognized by the UN Climate Change High Level Champion’s Race to Zero campaign, and join governments, businesses, cities, regions, and universities around the world that share the same mission.

This first report outlines the steps we are taking, the progress we have made, and the challenges we face on our journey toward a low-carbon future. It builds on and complements our existing environmental management system which is certified to ISO 14001. It has been prepared with the support of independent sustainability advisers Iken Associates, who also support our ISO 14001 activities.

Introduction

This first public report addresses a range of climate issues in RTH ltd, including trends in its environmental performance that have been monitored historically as part of our ISO14001 certification. It covers developments up to and including 2023.

From March 2020 RTH experienced a total covid-related collapse in demand with minimal work undertaken subsequently through 2020 and 2021. This affected all aspects of the business (including its environmental impacts). Recovery started in 2022 with the return of air shows and continued into 2023. With this in mind, post-covid attention was focused initially on reinvigorating internal environmental management, ensuring it remained fit for purpose. 2023 saw a focus on reducing operational emissions through energy efficiency measures including major lighting upgrades (extending into 2024) and engagement of suppliers and customers.

Recent baseline GHG emissions would normally be a basis for target setting, however 2020, 2021 and 2022 data were likely not representative or helpful, not least as and when the RTH business strategy changes. This would also apply to suppliers, venues and other business partners. 2023 is therefore likely to be an appropriate base year going forward- comparing office and warehouse energy use for the first half of 2024 against the first half of 2023 showed an 8% reduction indicating that the reduction efforts are delivering benefits.

The RTH ISO 14001 environmental system has also been reviewed and updated in 2023 and into 2024 to reflect new and forthcoming legal requirements and incremental improvements to processes such as the internal audit process.
This report is underpinned by a calculation of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with RTH activities which will support our 2939 and 2050 climate targets. This has involved collection of RTH utility and travel data and the application of the relevant conversion factors consistent with UK Government reporting guidance. RTH is not subject to the legal GHG reporting requirements imposed on large quoted companies, however it is seen as best practice to apply the same processes and protocols in calculating the RTH carbon footprint.

Summary RTH GHG Footprint

Category	2023 CO2te	2022 CO2te	2021 CO2te	2020 CO2te	2019 CO2te
Electricity	11.7	2.6	5.3	10.0	20.0
Gas	10.9	0	6.1	10.0	12.2
Flight (short haul)	10.9	3.2	4.1	2.6	2.6
Flight (long haul)	40.5	9.2	9.8	2.1	37.5
Van /Lorry	3.0	0	0	0	16.9
Car	3.0	0.6	0	0	0.9
Taxi	0.6	0	0	0	0.8

The 2023 figures unsurprisingly show a significant increase in travel and utility use reflecting a development from covid-affected business. The figures broadly compare with those from pre-covid 2019. Long haul travel is a major contributor to the over footprint reflecting the need to rebuild international relationships and it will be interesting to review the 2024 equivalent numbers against this figure.

Comparing January to June electricity use figures from 2023 and 2024 shows a reduction of 8%, suggesting that the energy efficiency measures including lighting and motion sensor upgrades in the office and warehouse are resulting in a significant 8% reduction. Full year figures should provide stronger evidence for these savings

Going forward our climate targets can include scope 1,2 and 3 and hence travel is included, nonetheless it is appropriate to set targets separately against utility and travel related impacts, not least because of the RTH business cycle involving airshows in different countries in different years.

Electricity and gas figures for 2021 reflected the very low level of site activity compared to earlier years whereas the increase in flights show the restart of planning for future events (and are reflected in increased event activity observed in 2022 and continuing into 2023).

Note there was an estimated bill received for gas in May 2022, however it was confirmed by the EMS administrator that no actual gas was consumed during the year, not least because the warehouse heater was out of action through the year. There was a resumption of gas use in 2023 and the annual figures quoted for 2023 are considered reliable.

RTH GHG Footprint 2023

(UK Government 2023 conversion factors)

Electricity	56295 x .207074 = 11657kg CO2e
Gas	60571 x 0.18 = 10,903kg CO2e
Flight (short haul)	22579km x 0.18592 = 10,935kg CO2e
Flight (long haul)	154873km x 0.26128 = 40,465kg CO2e
UK car (average car)	10774(miles) x .277332 = 2987kg CO2e
Taxi	2060(miles) x .277332 = 571kg CO2e
Lorry	4110(miles) x .7275 = 2990kg Co2e

Electricity use:

Jan-June 2023 = 30140 kWh

Jan-June 2024 = 27616 kWh ie 8% reduction

Flights were all economy class and none were domestic.

Electricity and gas data in kWh and travel in miles. 7.5t van conversion factor used.

RTH GHG Footprint 2022

(UK Government 2022 conversion factors)

Electricity	13464 x .19338 = 2604kg CO2e
Flight (short haul)	21245(km) x 0.15102 = 3208kg CO2e
Flight (long haul)	62536(km) x 0.14787 = 9247kg CO2e
UK car (average car)	2128(miles) x .27492 = 585kg CO2e

Flights were all economy class.

RTH GHG Footprint 2021

(UK Government 2021 conversion factors)

Gas	33,561 x .18316 = 6147kg CO2e
Electricity	25,160 x .21233 = 5342kg CO2e
Flight (short haul)	27,086(km) x 0.15102 = 4091kg CO2e
Flight (long haul)	65,966(km) x 0.14787 = 9754kg CO2e

Flights were all economy class.

KPIs and Targets

The scope of the GHG assessment has covered major areas of impact associated with RTH business. Given the broadening of scope of the 14001 management system to cover both site (show venue) and head office operations, it is considered appropriate to include business related travel in the calculation.

In setting KPIs and targets, it is recommended that it covers all identified major areas of GHG emissions. This means KPIs for utility related impacts (gas and electricity) in terms of tonnes CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). Our climate commitment means we have a GHG reduction target of 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 20250. We will also continue to engage with our suppliers and customers to support climate related action.

RTH Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Footprint Calculation

According to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) the main business activities which release greenhouse gases may include: electricity/gas use, waste disposal/recycling, business travel, owned or controlled vehicles, employee business travel and staff commuting.

For this assessment of RTH activity all the major categories have been covered except waste and staff commuting. Consideration should be given to including these additional categories in future reports (along with supply chain impacts) although it is anticipated their contribution on the overall carbon footprint is likely to be limited.

The Environmental Reporting Guidelines (including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance) published in March 2019 form the main reference point for this assessment of RTH emissions.

The Government conversion factors that support greenhouse gas reporting have been used in the production of the RTH footprint. These conversion factors help to convert activities, such as fuel consumption, car mileage or waste generated, into the equivalent carbon emissions.To calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with each activity, data collected is converted to greenhouse gas emissions using emission factors.

Data x Emission Factor = Greenhouse gas emissions

Conversion factors (updated annually) sourced from:

UK Government Greenhouse Gas Reporting: Conversion Factors 2023