SBTi validation is only awarded to businesses if their decarbonisation strategies are in alignment with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to under 1.5C. The announcement confirms that the target set, as part of Legal & General, is based on the latest climate science, as the business makes meaningful progress on its net-zero journey.

The Science Based Target is for a minimum 42% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 against a 2021 baseline. Cala has revealed a 16 per cent reduction already and, based on the current trajectory, could hit its approved science-based target early.

This signals significant headway towards Cala’s initial targets, set out in its 2021 Sustainability Strategy, which included extensive work to establish its baseline carbon footprint.

The business has also committed to achieving net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, incorporating all Scope 1 and 2 emissions, as well as waste disposal, business travel and leased offices, whilst ensuring that all new Cala homes are operationally net-zero enabled ahead of 2030.

It has also set a wider target of net-zero total greenhouse gas emissions across the business by 2045, which includes the embodied carbon of construction, and the ongoing life-cycle emissions of its homes, in addition to operational emissions.

Kathryn Dapré, head of sustainability at Cala, said: “Having our science-based targets ratified, is an important milestone in our commitment to delivering on our sustainability goals.

“By benchmarking our complete scope 1,2 and 3 carbon footprint in 2021, we have been able to measure and accurately report on our progress when it comes to sustainability, and our latest results, especially across our reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, show that the structured approach we are taking to deliver on our carbon reduction targets is working.

“Our strategy has been carefully planned to initially focus on the things that will make the biggest difference to reducing the main sources of carbon emissions. Some of the biggest contributors to our results so far have been transitioning to sustainable HVO fuel on a number of our sites and diverting 99.9 per cent of our construction waste from landfill.

“Our biggest focus areas for 2023 and beyond will be the transition to gas-free developments, alongside the rollout of timber frame construction across our developments in England. We look forward to continuing to report on Cala’s positive progress to our customers, partners and the wider industry.

“Whilst we are seeing positive progress in these and many more areas already, being part of the Science Based Targets initiative has given us fresh impetus to dramatically transform our business and embed a culture of sustainability in everything we do to reduce our environmental impact, and ensure Cala is a place to be proud of, for our customers, our contractors and our colleagues.”