United Utilities
United Utilities Group PLC, commonly known as United Utilities, is a leading water and wastewater services provider based in Great Britain. Headquartered in Warrington, the company primarily operates across the North West of England, serving millions of customers with essential water services. Founded in 1995, United Utilities has achieved significant milestones, including the successful integration of various water companies and a commitment to sustainability. The company offers a range of core services, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and environmental management, distinguished by its focus on innovation and customer service. United Utilities is recognised for its strong market position, consistently ranking among the top water companies in the UK, and has received accolades for its efforts in environmental stewardship and community engagement.
DitchCarbon Score
How does United Utilities's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Water Distribution industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
United Utilities's score of 79 is higher than 100% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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United Utilities's reported carbon emissions
In 2023, United Utilities reported total carbon emissions of approximately 138,961,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, with mobile combustion contributing about 17,665,000 kg CO2e and fugitive emissions at approximately 94,915,000 kg CO2e. Scope 2 emissions were minimal, at about 9,300 kg CO2e, while Scope 3 emissions totalled approximately 476,128,000 kg CO2e, with significant contributions from capital goods (about 138,182,000 kg CO2e) and purchased goods and services (approximately 250,189,000 kg CO2e). United Utilities has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. Additionally, the company plans to increase its sourcing of renewable electricity from 95% in 2020 to 100% by 2023. For Scope 3 emissions, United Utilities targets a 25% reduction by 2030, with a commitment that 66% of its suppliers in the capital goods category will have science-based targets by 2025. Long-term, United Utilities aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050, with a further goal of reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 90% and Scope 3 emissions by 90% within the same timeframe. These targets align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and reflect the company's commitment to sustainable practices in the water utilities sector.
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| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 127,172,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 11,789,000 | 0,000,000 | - | - | - |
| Scope 3 | 426,039,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Industry emissions intensity
Location emissions intensity
Reduction initiatives & disclosure networks
Companies disclose and commit to reducing emissions to show they are serious about reducing emissions impact over time. They can also help a company track its progress over time.
United Utilities is participating in some of the initiatives that we track. This may change over time as the company engages with new initiatives or updates its commitments. DitchCarbon will update this information as it becomes available.
