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 89% 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 2024, United Utilities Group PLC reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 134,239,000 kg CO2e, comprising 17,838,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 (mobile combustion and fugitive emissions) and 32,900 kg CO2e from Scope 2 (purchased electricity). The majority of emissions, about 419,372,000 kg CO2e, were attributed to Scope 3, which includes categories such as capital goods and purchased goods and services. United Utilities has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 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, United Utilities targets 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, 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 | 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 |
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.
