Carbon Reduction Plan – Lighthouse Dental Practice

Organisation: Lighthouse Dental Practice
Registered address: 27 High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QH
Publication date: July 2026
Baseline year: 01 April 2026 – 31 March 2027

1. Commitment to achieving Net Zero

Lighthouse Dental Practice is committed to achieving Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across its UK operations by 2050, ahead of the UK Government’s statutory 2050 target and aligned with the Greener NHS ambition (an NHS Carbon Footprint reached by 2040 and NHS Carbon Footprint Plus by 2045). We recognise our responsibility, as a healthcare provider, to reduce the environmental impact of the care we deliver, and we have embedded carbon reduction into our clinical, operational and procurement decisions.

This Carbon Reduction Plan sets out our baseline emissions, current footprint, reduction targets and the specific measures we are taking. It has been prepared in accordance with PPN 006 and its Technical Standard, using the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol Corporate Standard and UK Government (DESNZ/DEFRA) conversion factors, and reports emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e).

2. Baseline emissions footprint

Baseline emissions are the reference point against which reduction is measured. Our baseline year is 01 April 2026- 31 March 2027. The baseline covers all Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and the five required Scope 3 categories: (4) upstream transportation and distribution, (5) waste generated in operations, (6) business travel, (7) employee commuting, and (9) downstream transportation and distribution.

Methodology: GHG Protocol; DESNZ/DEFRA [year] factors.

3. Current emissions reporting

Our most recent reporting year is 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027. Emissions are recalculated annually to track progress against the baseline.

This represents an illustrative reduction of approximately 22% against baseline, driven principally by switching to a renewable electricity tariff and by route optimisation of our mobile service.

4. Emissions reduction targets

To reach Net Zero by 2045 we have set the following science-aligned interim targets against our baseline of 32.5 tCO2e:

Targets illustrative – set against your own measured baseline. A projection graph should be inserted here per the template.

5. Carbon reduction projects

Completed and ongoing measures (environmental management measures currently in effect):

• Switched to a 100% renewable (REGO-backed) electricity tariff, cutting Scope 2 emissions.
• LED lighting throughout the practice and base, with movement sensors in low-use areas.
• Digital-first operating model – electronic consent, records and mouth care plans – removing routine paper use.
• Rigorous waste segregation under HTM 07-01, diverting non-infectious waste from incineration to offensive/recycling streams and reducing waste to landfill.
• Amalgam-free preventive model, eliminating mercury waste.
• Route optimisation for the mobile service – batching each school’s pupils into single visits and grouping nearby settings – reducing mileage and emissions.
• Green Impact in Dentistry Toolkit adopted to embed sustainable practice across the team.

Planned measures (in effect during the contract, supporting Net Zero by 2045):

• Transition of the delivery fleet to electric or ultra-low-emission vehicles.
• Energy-efficiency upgrades to heating and decontamination equipment, and on-site renewable generation where feasible.
• Supplier engagement – prioritising ISO 14001/EcoVadis suppliers with their own Carbon Reduction Plans, and take-back/refill schemes to cut packaging waste.
• Expanded remote check-ins and virtual advice to avoid unnecessary journeys.
• Completion of the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment and annual footprint updates.
• Staff and school engagement combining oral-health and sustainability education, and pollinator-friendly planting at our premises.

6. Declaration and sign off

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been completed in accordance with PPN 006 and the associated Technical Standard for the Completion of Carbon Reduction Plans, and uses the required reporting standard for Scope 1, Scope 2 and the defined subset of Scope 3 emissions, and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard.

Emissions have been reported and recorded in accordance with the published reporting standard for Carbon Reduction Plans and the GHG Reporting Protocol corporate standard, using the appropriate DESNZ/DEFRA emission factors.

This Carbon Reduction Plan has been reviewed and signed off by the board of directors (or equivalent management body) and is published on our website.