This quarter we’ve published our third Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Report which covers our operations and activities across the financial year 2024-25.
This year’s report reflects both progress and evolution: not only have we achieved tangible improvements across our environmental metrics, but we’ve also deepened transparency, sharpened analysis, and made the report itself more accessible for all stakeholders.
At Kao Data, sustainability is not simply a target — it’s a mindset. Since our inception, we have pursued climate conscious computing, balancing the needs of high-performance workloads with the responsibility to minimise environmental impact and deliver positive social outcomes.
Our team have pulled-out our ten highlights from this year’s ESG Report and they highlight real progress, a clear forward vision and industry leading levels of clarity and transparency on our operational metrics:
1. Greater Granularity on Scope Data
For the first time, we have been able to provide more detailed emissions reporting across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. By presenting both location-based and market-based data, alongside year-on-year comparisons, we’ve created a more comprehensive picture of our carbon footprint. This improved granularity strengthens our ability to track reductions, manage risks, and align with science-based targets.
2. A Clearer Picture Overall
This year’s report has been significantly evolved to provide stakeholders with a much clearer understanding of Kao Data’s performance. By structuring the document around our material ESG issues and mapping progress against SASB, GRESB, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the report paints a more accurate, transparent, and actionable picture of our sustainability journey.
3. A Fully Interactive Document
We’ve made the ESG Report more accessible than ever. The 2024–25 edition is fully interactive, with hyperlinks that allow readers to navigate directly to sections of interest. This reflects our commitment to openness and ensures investors, customers, and partners can quickly access the information most relevant to them.
4. Formalising Our Net Zero Roadmap
We have now published a formalised Net Zero Roadmap, setting clear milestones on our journey to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 across all three scopes of emissions. This roadmap is not just a statement of intent — it’s an operational guide, helping us align internal processes, partnerships, and innovations toward a shared goal of Net Zero.
5. Alignment with a New FM Provider
A major development this year was the appointment of CBRE Data Centre Solutions as our new facilities management partner. With deep experience in managing hyperscale estates, CBRE is helping us to strengthen efficiency, standardise processes, and support our growth and scalability in a sustainable way. Their expertise will be critical as we expand further into new UK and European markets.
6. Deeper ESG Data Transparency
The 2024–25 ESG Report also introduces greater granularity across environmental, social, and governance metrics. On the social side, for instance, we have reported on data breaches (zero), customer NPS (73), and safety performance (zero LTIFR). This level of detail enables stakeholders to measure progress more clearly and reinforces our accountability across all dimensions of ESG.
7. Energy Efficiency Keeps Improving
Our estate-wide Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) has improved again, moving from 1.57 to 1.53 year-on-year. Every decimal point counts when it comes to energy efficiency, especially as AI and advanced computing workloads place unprecedented demands on infrastructure. This improvement demonstrates our ability to scale sustainably.
8. 100% Renewable Power – Strengthened by Dogger Bank
We remain proud to be powered by 100% renewable energy. In 2024, we took steps to future-proof this commitment by securing supply from the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, the largest in the world. From April 2025, our power supply will be directly backed by Dogger Bank, ensuring resilience, transparency, and continuity in our renewable energy strategy.
9. Water Use Efficiency Improving
Water remains a critical sustainability issue for data centres. We are pleased to report that our Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) improved from 0.34 to 0.26 this year. By using less water while supporting more compute, we are reducing stress on local resources and setting a benchmark for responsible water management.
10. Waste Down, Circularity Up
Our commitment to the circular economy is delivering results. This year, we cut total waste from 154 tonnes to 68 tonnes, a reduction of more than half, while maintaining 100% diversion from landfill. Every item of waste was either reused, recycled, or converted to green energy — ensuring nothing was wasted.
Looking Forward
The 2024–25 ESG Report reflects an organisation that is not only making year-on-year improvements but also evolving how we measure, report, and deliver sustainability performance. With more transparent data, a formalised Net Zero Roadmap, and stronger partnerships, we are well positioned to continue leading in climate conscious computing.
As we expand our footprint and serve the AI and advanced computing workloads of tomorrow, we remain steadfast in our belief that innovation and sustainability must go hand in hand.
You can explore the full interactive report here on our website.
Scott Manton
HSE Director