Sustainability

PASMA is committed to reducing our environmental impact and supporting our industry to do the same. The goal is to reach net zero by 2050 and halve emissions by 2030. We’re doing this by making lots of small, sustainable choices in our daily activities and a lot of big, bold changes too – we’re talking everything from recycled paper in our printers and taking the train more often to turning training cards digital.

That means reducing the greenhouse gas emissions we create directly (Scope 1), indirectly through energy (Scope 2), and across our wider value chain (Scope 3). It’s a big task, but we’re breaking it down, making progress and sharing our journey along the way.

Note: Scope 1, 2, and 3 is the internationally recognised framework established by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for categorising and measuring a company’s greenhouse gas footprint.

Our commitment

We’ve grouped our activities into five focus areas:

1. Sustainable training delivery

Around 80,000 delegates every year take a PASMA training course via our international network of approved training centres and instructors. We’ve taken some big steps to ensure people can be trained in the safe use of mobile access towers, tower scaffolds and low level access equipment with minimal environmental impact:

Training certificates that used to be printed and posted are now sent digitally
Since 2020, e-learning options for our most popular courses let delegates learn theory segments from the comfort of their own home or workplace
Since 2025, all PASMA cards are issued virtually by default, saving around 80,000 bits of plastic annually
Training centres are audited regularly to ensure standards are being maintained, but since 2026, most of these audits are done remotely via webcams
Instructors training and upskilling is done online wherever possible
We’ve reduced the amount of paperwork that needs to be printed for a training course

Each change helps cut carbon, reduce waste and support a more modern learning experience.

Next goal >>

PASMA training will go completely paperless

2. Championing sustainable access equipment

We believe that towers are one of the most sustainable forms of access equipment, and that PASMA has a role in promoting this across the industry. We’ve taken the following action:

Developed and launched TowerSure, a game-changing online system for managing tower inspections. It works with a smart inspection label that can be re-used over and over again.
Encourage quality, well-made towers that meet recognised standards, are manufactured using recycled materials, designed to last and can be recycled at the end of their life

Next goal >>

Develop a protocol for tower repairs and recycling

3. Meetings and events without harming the planet

We want our meetings and events to be positive experiences for attendees and the environment. That’s why:

Council and committee meetings are now mostly held online, and have been since 2020
In-person events only happen when we feel they’re vital and will hold real value for attendees
We consider sustainability when choosing venues, suppliers and catering for our events
Print, gifts and merchandise are chosen with care, prioritising useful items made from sustainable materials

Next goal >>

Re-imagine our events programme to deliver more value to more people, while cutting the carbon footprint

4. Minimising the impact of our operations

Sustainability starts at home – or in our case, at the PASMA office. Changes there include:

Made our building more energy efficient by switching to a renewable energy provider on a green tariff, switching lightbulbs to LEDs, insulating the loft space, installing new smart heating/cooling controls, upgrading our electric sockets, making use of computer energy-saving settings and adding double-glazed windows
Increased recycling by introducing clearly labelled bins for different materials, including a Terracycle Zero Waste Box
Follow a responsible purchasing policy, which encourages things like only buying refurbished technology and using eco-friendly packaging for our products
When staff travel, we go by train whenever practical. If we have to fly, the flights are offset.
Minimising the amount of paper in the office e.g. by requesting digital invoices and reading online editions of industry magazines
Embed sustainability into every project by considering it right from the start
Taking a digital-first approach to marketing and communications

Next goal >>

Develop a practical plan to achieve net zero emissions

5. Leading the way

Changes we have made within the PASMA team to improve our sustainability:

We have employed a full-time sustainability adviser since 2022
Our staff have all completed Carbon Literacy training to increase their understanding of carbon costs and the impacts of different activities
All employees have the opportunity to join our Green Team to help advance sustainability within the organisation
We aim to set a good example for our members and our industry of how an SME can operate more sustainably

Next goal >>

In 2026, we will voluntarily implement an environmental management system to help us identify, manage, monitor and reduce our environmental impacts

Member Login

Sustainability

Our commitment

1. Sustainable training delivery

Next goal >>

2. Championing sustainable access equipment

Next goal >>

3. Meetings and events without harming the planet

Next goal >>

4. Minimising the impact of our operations

Next goal >>

5. Leading the way

Next goal >>

Our credentials