- Supply chain disruptions affecting the procurement of sustainably-certified paper.
- Increased cost in EU ETS certificates for paper mills.
- Reputational risk of having a non-SBTi approved “net zero” target.
Pearson plc
Greenhouse gas emissions & sustainability report data
In its 2023 reporting, Pearson plc disclosed greenhouse gas emissions of 307.2K tCO2e/year (market-based). By scope: Scope 1: 4.7K tCO2e/year; Scope 2: 14.2K tCO2e/year (market-based); Scope 3: 302.6K tCO2e/year. Figures are as stated in the company's own report and may use different boundaries, units or methods (for example market-based vs location-based Scope 2), so compare with care.
GHG Emissions
307.2K tCO2e/year (market-based)
2023
Renewable Energy
100% of electricity
of total energy
Water Usage
84.9K m3/year (estimated)
2023
Waste
680 tons/year (estimated)
2023
Energy Use
59.4K MWh/year
2023
📊 Emissions by Scope (2023)
| Scope | What it covers | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | Direct emissions from sources the company owns or controls (fuel combustion, company vehicles, process and fugitive emissions). | 4.7K tCO2e/year |
| Scope 2 | Indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heat and cooling. | 14.2K tCO2e/year (market-based) |
| Scope 3 | Other indirect emissions across the value chain (purchased goods, business travel, use of sold products, etc.). | 302.6K tCO2e/year |
New to scopes? Read Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions explained and market-based vs location-based Scope 2.
📈 Emissions by Report Period
| Report period | Headline emissions figure reported |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 307.2K tCO2e/year (market-based) |
| 2022 | 396.1K tCO2e (location-based); 367276 tCO2e (market-based) |
| 2021 | 317.7K Mt CO2e |
| 2019 | 80.4K tCO2e (location based); 33454 tCO2e (market based) |
| 2018 | 84.6K tCO2e/year |
| 2017 | 104.4K MT CO2e |
Each row is the headline figure extracted from a different report; scope coverage and methodology can change between years.
✅ Reported Environmental Achievements
- Achieved a 16.3% reduction in emissions during 2023 compared to 2022, leading to a 44% reduction of GHG emissions overall (vs a market-based target of 50% reduction in 2030 against a 2018 baseline).
- Increased the use of 100% renewable electricity consumption.
- Reduced physical footprint by 8% through decommissioning utility-intensive buildings.
🎯 Climate & Sustainability Targets
🔜 Short-term
- Continue decarbonisation journey including energy efficiency and paper procurement.
- Evolve skills-based volunteering programme.
- Undergo a double materiality assessment to further define sustainability strategy.
📅 Medium-term
- Reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 50% by 2030 (validated by SBTi).
- Publish a standalone climate transition plan.
🔭 Long-term
- Net zero emissions by 2050 (target submitted to SBTi for validation).
🌱 ESG Focus Areas
Driving learning for everyone with our productsEmpowering our people to make a differenceLeading responsibly for a better planet