Reliable sustainability reporting depends on people who understand the information they hold and why it matters. For Charles Taylor, bringing those people together across a global business became the starting point for a more structured approach to environmental, social and governance performance.

The insurance services group’s submission to The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026 describes a programme that began in 2019. At that point, more than 100 offices used different finance and record-keeping systems, and there was no consistent approach to sustainability reporting. Establishing an emissions baseline meant building relationships as well as collecting figures.

A small internal team, supported by consultants Ecofiniti, began contacting local offices and developing a network of colleagues who could contribute data. Workshops helped users understand how to enter emissions information into a central carbon accounting system. An accessible initial tool allowed the business to establish a common process while colleagues developed their knowledge.

As reporting needs became more demanding, the team reviewed whether that system could still support the work. In 2024, Charles Taylor transferred its historical data to a more sophisticated platform. The change created opportunities to improve accuracy and support submissions for science-based emissions targets and EcoVadis assessments.

Finance colleagues became an important part of this process. The sustainability team explained why their input was needed and showed how the quality of financial and operational information affected the resulting analysis. This helped connect reporting with existing responsibilities, giving colleagues a clearer reason to contribute and a better understanding of the consequences of incomplete data.

Client expectations also helped make sustainability relevant across the business. Questions about environmental performance and net-zero commitments increasingly appeared in due diligence exercises and requests for proposals. Teams had a practical reason to seek reliable answers, bringing sustainability into commercial conversations and strengthening demand for consistent information.

The work has produced a defined set of external commitments. An approval letter dated 20 December 2024 confirms that the Science Based Targets initiative validated Charles Taylor Limited’s net-zero targets. These include reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050 and sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

The approved near-term targets specify absolute Scope 1 emissions reductions of 63% and Scope 2 reductions of 97.7% by 2034 against a 2019 baseline. For Scope 3, which covers indirect value-chain emissions, the target is a 58.8% reduction by 2034 against a 2023 baseline. These are future commitments supported by an agreed framework, rather than reductions already achieved.

Alongside emissions accounting, Charles Taylor and Ecofiniti have used scenario workshops to explore climate-related risks across different regions and business activities. The work considered physical risks, including extreme weather, and risks arising from changes in markets, policy and other operating conditions. It helped teams identify priorities and develop a roadmap for responding to them.

Further opportunities are emerging through client relationships. Charles Taylor describes early discussions about understanding emissions associated with work undertaken on clients’ behalf, an area it calls Carbon in Claims. At the time of the submission, this remained an approach being explored rather than an established service with measured results.

For the wider SHE community, the experience highlights the human work behind a reporting system. Charles Taylor built local relationships, explained the purpose of data collection and changed its tools as requirements developed. That combination has given a geographically dispersed business a more consistent basis for setting commitments, answering clients and deciding where further action is needed.

Based on Charles Taylor’s submission and supporting materials for The SHE Show Inspiring Change Awards 2026. Programme progress is as reported in September 2026; target details are from the December 2024 approval letter.