Edinburgh Leisure’s Net Zero Framework provides a whole-organisation model for climate action.
As a citywide leisure trust, operating energy-intensive venues, our responsibility is both environmental and social: to reduce carbon emissions and resource use while protecting services that support health, wellbeing and community life across Edinburgh.
Our approach is innovative because sustainability is being embedded as a condition of how the organisation works, not as a separate workstream. Net zero commitments, carbon reduction targets, energy cost exposure and environmental impact are increasingly considered in investment decisions, estate choices, procurement, operational reviews and everyday venue practice.
This means environmental sustainability is woven through the whole strategy, shaping how decisions are made, how resources are allocated and how success is judged. Our Net Zero Board, established in August 2024, drives cross-organisational accountability and supported development of a comprehensive Net Zero Framework built around eight goals, providing a practical roadmap for reducing emissions, improving energy and resource efficiency, minimising waste, enhancing biodiversity and engaging staff and communities in change.
Colleague Green Champions translate strategy into everyday venue action. One year on, this embedded approach has delivered measurable progress, including a 13.7% reduction in carbon emissions, £30k savings in waste and a 59% recycling rate, alongside waste reduction, water efficiency, biodiversity and a wide range of staff engagement activity. It demonstrates that environmental action can strengthen organisational resilience, reduce costs and support better long-term stewardship of community assets, while continuing to deliver inclusive health and wellbeing benefits for the people of Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Leisure’s sustainability and net zero programme supports local and national priorities to tackle climate change, reduce emissions, improve biodiversity, and build resilient communities. Its commitment to net zero by 2030 aligns with Scotland’s Climate Change Plan and the City of Edinburgh Council’s 2030 Climate Strategy, while recognising the responsibility of a public-facing leisure trust operating energy-intensive venues.
By reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, investing in biodiversity and supporting sustainable travel, Edinburgh Leisure contributes to wider environmental goals while continuing to deliver inclusive health, wellbeing and community benefits. Partnership working and community engagement have been central to delivery.
Partners brought technical expertise, funding and learning, including Edinburgh Community Solar Co-operative on solar PV projects, Local Energy Scotland on funding and low-carbon initiatives, and the Edinburgh Climate Compact on city-wide climate action. Local bike shop Projektride supported Edinburgh Leisure’s first sustainable travel event in February 2025 at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, offering a free bike service to customers and staff, with similar events held at other venues during National Bike Week.
We also partnered on a bus trial to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho, improving access to a venue with limited public transport links and encouraging shared journeys that reduce traffic, CO₂ emissions, noise and air pollution. Staff and volunteers helped turn strategy into practical action.
Over winter 2025, volunteers planted 1,820 trees across the estate, strengthening biodiversity and creating 12 new green corridors. This enhanced green spaces, habitat connectivity, and community ownership. Internally, staff engagement was strengthened through training, with 171 staff completing Carbon Awareness training, four achieving Carbon Literacy accreditation, and 57 receiving waste management training.
Green Champions also supported venue-based initiatives from coffee pod and soft plastics recycling to adaptations that support staff cycling. Robust performance data demonstrates measurable impact.
Since carbon monitoring began in 2009/10, organisational emissions have reduced from 15,507 tCO₂e to 5,481 tCO₂e in 2025/26, a long-term reduction of 65.2%. In 2025/26, energy efficiency projects supported a 13.7% reduction from 6,356 tCO₂e in the previous year to 5,481 tCO₂e. Waste initiatives reduced volumes by 20 tonnes, increased recycling rates to 59%, and saved £30k in waste uplift costs.
Water conservation measures, including 146 water-efficient showers and taps, contributed to a 2% reduction in water consumption. The programme has delivered significant benefits for Edinburgh Leisure and its communities. Sustainability is embedded in organisational decision-making through procurement standards with a 10% environmental weighting, making environmental impact part of everyday choices rather than a separate project.
Edinburgh Leisure secured £81,865 external funding to improve its environmental footprint and earned national recognition through the national Green Apple Award for transforming food waste management across venue cafés, which started with a colleague suggestion. These achievements show how we are embedding climate action into the way it operates, invests and engages with communities.
By linking carbon reduction, resource efficiency, sustainable travel, biodiversity and community wellbeing, the programme is reducing emissions and costs, strengthening organisational resilience and advancing Scotland’s net zero ambitions while supporting a fair, inclusive transition to a low-carbon future.
Our case study is a video sharing the story of our award-winning food waste reduction project. The video follows the project from a colleague’s practical suggestion through to implementation across Edinburgh Leisure’s four café venues, creating a circular intervention for food waste which is now separated, processed and reused as compost by the grounds team across the estate.
It demonstrates the environmental impact of reducing waste sent off-site, the organisational benefit of a lower-cost circular process, and the cultural impact of empowering frontline colleagues to shape Edinburgh Leisure’s sustainability practice.
Watch Now >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ens9FfGAJu8
The sustainability of this programme is underpinned by Edinburgh Leisure’s long-term commitment to environmental sustainability being woven through everything it does, supported by its Net Zero Framework and overseen by the Net Zero Board.
Sustainability is embedded within organisational governance, investment planning, staff engagement, and operational decision-making, ensuring continued focus beyond the initial year of activity.
Future development will combine major renewable energy projects, including a planned solar PV system of approximately 500kWp at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, solar PV installations at a further three sites, staff training through the Carbon Literacy Project, Zero Waste Policy implementation, performance monitoring and continuous improvement.
This approach will broaden the work across facilities, workforce and procurement, while delivering lasting environmental, financial and community benefits and supporting Edinburgh Leisure’s journey to net zero.
The organisation’s new Zero Waste Policy, approved by our Senior Leadership Team and Joint Negotiation and Consultative Committee, and published in June 2026, will support waste reduction and circular economy ambitions by setting clear expectations for consistent, sustainable waste management across sites.
Staff training and engagement will support implementation across the estate in 2026/27.
Looking ahead, Edinburgh Leisure is committed to ensuring that environmental sustainability remains central to its long-term development and service delivery. By embedding net zero principles across its facilities, workforce, and investment decisions, the organisation will continue to reduce its environmental impact while supporting Edinburgh and Scotland’s wider climate ambitions.
This integrated approach will help create healthier, more connected communities, strengthen organisational resilience, deliver lasting value for future generations, and share learning that can inspire other leisure trusts operating energy-intensive community assets.
