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.
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.
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.
United Utilities's score of 84 is higher than 92% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, United Utilities Group PLC reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 134,239,000 kg CO2e, which includes Scope 1 emissions of about 113,513,000 kg CO2e (mobile combustion and fugitive emissions) and Scope 2 emissions of approximately 32,900 kg CO2e from purchased electricity. The company also disclosed significant Scope 3 emissions, totalling around 419,372,000 kg CO2e, with major contributions from purchased goods and services (about 233,480,000 kg CO2e) and capital goods (approximately 99,962,000 kg CO2e). United Utilities has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 42% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. Additionally, the company plans to achieve 100% renewable electricity sourcing by 2023, up from 95% in 2020. For Scope 3 emissions, the target is a 25% reduction by 2030, with a commitment that 66% of suppliers in the capital goods category will have science-based targets by 2025. Long-term goals include reaching net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050, with a 90% reduction in both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and a similar target for Scope 3 emissions by the same year. These targets align with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and reflect the company's commitment to addressing climate change effectively.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scope 1 | 111,925,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Scope 2 | 11,789,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000 | 00,000 |
Scope 3 | 426,039,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
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.