This update reflects Athena’s unique position as a micro-organisation with two remote workers, no office premises, no fleet and very limited operational emissions. As a result, Athena’s greatest environmental impact and opportunity to contribute to Net Zero lies within its Scope 3 emissions, particularly through procurement, commissioned delivery, consortium partners, suppliers and funded programmes. 

Manchester Athena Net Zero 2050 Plan 

Supply Chain and Scope 3 Focused Approach 

Strategic Position 

Manchester Athena commits to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and supporting the Greater Manchester Combined Authority ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038. Given Athena’s operating model, direct Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are likely to be negligible and difficult to measure accurately. Therefore, Athena will prioritise reducing and influencing emissions across Scope 3, where it has the greatest ability to drive change through members, delivery partners, suppliers and commissioned services. 

Carbon Emissions Hierarchy 

Priority Focus Area Athena Influence 
1 Scope 3 Supply Chain Emissions High 
2 Partner and Member Emissions High 
3 Contracted Service Delivery High 
4 Business Travel Medium 
5 Homeworking Energy Use Low 
6 Direct Scope 1 Emissions Very Low 

2027-2030: Foundation and Engagement 

Objectives 

Build understanding of supply chain emissions and establish sustainability expectations. 

Actions 

  • Map all Athena suppliers, delivery partners and consortium members. 
  • Establish a Sustainable Procurement and Commissioning Framework. 
  • Include environmental sustainability requirements within all new contracts and partnership agreements. 
  • Introduce environmental due diligence questions for all organisations joining Athena-led consortia. 
  • Create an Athena Sustainability Charter for members and partners. 
  • Require suppliers bidding for contracts above £25,000 to demonstrate environmental policies and carbon reduction commitments. 
  • Collect baseline environmental information from key members and suppliers. 

Targets by 2030 

  • 100% of new procurements include environmental assessment criteria. 
  • 75% of strategic suppliers have an environmental policy or Carbon Reduction Plan. 
  • 75% of Athena members have published net zero or carbon reduction commitments. 
  • 100% of consortium bids include environmental sustainability commitments. 
  • At least 10% of procurement evaluation scores allocated to social value and environmental sustainability where permissible. 

2030-2038: Supply Chain Transformation 

Objectives 

Align Athena’s ecosystem with Greater Manchester’s 2038 carbon-neutral ambition. 

Actions 

  • Prioritise suppliers and delivery partners with verified carbon reduction programmes. 
  • Introduce annual sustainability reporting requirements for strategic delivery partners. 
  • Develop shared sustainability standards across Athena membership. 
  • Encourage adoption of recognised frameworks such as: 
  • Carbon Reduction Plans (PPN 06/21) 
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems 
  • SME Climate Hub commitments 
  • Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) 
  • Embed carbon reduction requirements into all commissioned employment, health and inclusion programmes. 
  • Promote low-carbon delivery methods including: 
  • Hybrid delivery models 
  • Community-based delivery 
  • Digital service access 
  • Reduced travel requirements 

Targets by 2038 

  • 100% of strategic suppliers have environmental policies. 
  • 90% of procurement spend directed through suppliers with carbon reduction commitments. 
  • 100% of Athena members reporting environmental activity annually. 
  • 50% reduction in estimated supply-chain emissions intensity from the 2027 baseline. 
  • All Athena-led consortium contracts include measurable environmental KPIs. 

2038-2045: Net Zero Supply Chain Leadership 

Objectives 

Move beyond compliance and drive collaborative decarbonisation. 

Actions 

  • Implement annual net zero reviews with strategic suppliers. 
  • Develop green innovation projects with members and community partners. 
  • Support collaborative procurement arrangements that reduce duplication and emissions. 
  • Encourage suppliers to set science-based carbon reduction targets. 
  • Work with local providers to reduce transport-related emissions by delivering services closer to communities. 

Targets by 2045 

  • 75% reduction in supply-chain carbon intensity. 
  • 95% of procurement expenditure with suppliers demonstrating active carbon reduction programmes. 
  • 100% of strategic partners operating under net zero or carbon reduction plans. 
  • Environmental performance considered within all partnership reviews. 

2045-2050: Net Zero Supply Chain Achievement 

Objectives 

Ensure all remaining residual emissions are minimised and unavoidable emissions addressed. 

Actions 

  • Eliminate avoidable emissions from procurement and commissioned services. 
  • Work exclusively with strategic suppliers that can demonstrate robust environmental performance unless alternative provision is unavailable. 
  • Continue reducing travel, waste and resource consumption across all Athena-funded activity. 
  • Offset only residual emissions which cannot be technically or economically eliminated and only through independently verified carbon-removal schemes. 

Targets by 2050 

  • 90% reduction in estimated supply-chain emissions intensity against the 2027 baseline. 
  • 100% of strategic suppliers on a recognised net zero pathway. 
  • 100% of major delivery contracts include environmental outcome measures. 
  • Net Zero achieved across Athena’s operational and supply-chain influence. 

Annual Supply Chain KPIs 

These should become Athena’s primary annual measures: 

KPI 2027 2030 2038 2050 
Strategic suppliers with environmental policies 25% 75% 100% 100% 
Strategic suppliers with Carbon Reduction Plans 10% 50% 90% 100% 
Procurement spend with environmentally responsible suppliers Baseline 60% 90% 100% 
Consortium bids containing environmental commitments 100% 100% 100% 100% 
Athena members with Net Zero plans 30% 75% 100% 100% 
Major contracts with environmental KPIs 25% 75% 100% 100% 

Measuring Success 

Rather than focusing on detailed Scope 1 and 2 calculations, which are unlikely to be material given Athena’s remote-working model, Athena will measure success through: 

  1. Supply chain decarbonisation. 
  2. Member organisation environmental performance. 
  3. Sustainable procurement spend. 
  4. Environmental commitments within commissioned services. 
  5. Contribution to GMCA environmental and social value objectives. 
  6. Green employment and skills outcomes generated through Athena-led programmes. 

This approach is proportionate, practical and consistent with the principle that Athena’s greatest environmental impact comes not from its own operations, but from its ability to influence the behaviour, procurement decisions and service delivery models of its members, suppliers and community partners across Greater Manchester.