Sustainability

We will do this by:

Our ambition is to be net zero by 2035, and to ensure that our family of museums are ready for the impacts of a changing climate.

Our Climate Action Plan sets out our strategy for ambitious and collaborative action across all our departments to 2030 – the halfway point to net zero by 2035. It enables us to address the challenges posed by climate change, reduce our environmental impact and contribute to global sustainability efforts.

We are committed to responsible procurement that maximises social, environmental, and economic value. Our Supplier Sustainability Charter outlines the standards we expect from our supply chain, including a commitment to reaching Net Zero by 2050 at the latest. By aligning with national policies and our own Climate Action Plan, this charter ensures we work together to innovate for the benefit of both people and the planet.

As a result of climate change, London is predicted to experience hotter and drier conditions, along with more frequent severe flooding. We commissioned a climate risk assessment to identify the key climate hazards V&A South Kensington, Young V&A, and V&A East (V&A East Storehouse and V&A East Museum) are exposed to. The key hazards are extreme heat, water scarcity, and surface water flooding. If we do nothing, this may impact our buildings, staff and visitor wellbeing and comfort, and pose a risk to our collections.

These findings will shape further research and development of a climate change adaptation plan.

Every year we remove objects made from temperature sensitive materials, such as waxes, from display to protect them from damage.

Our total emissions in 2025/26 were 14,273 tCO₂e, a reduction of 23% from 2024/25 and 15% from our 2023/24 baseline.

We also look at carbon produced compared with the number of people who visit and work at the museum and the size of our buildings. In 2025/26, the amount of carbon for each staff member and visitor reduced 33%, and the amount for each square metre of museum floorspace reduced 14% compared with 2024/25.

Breakdown of emissions by type (scope):

Total emissions 2025/26

The things we buy and the services we use create the biggest share of our carbon emissions, making up 50% of our total footprint. Our investments are the next largest source, accounting for 23%.

Carbon impact from fuel and energy use (scope 1 and 2 emissions)

We have reduced emissions from running our buildings. Emissions from fuel and cooling systems (fugitive emissions) fell by 38% in 2025/26 compared with 2024/25.

The electricity we use also had a much lower carbon impact. V&A South Kensington and our Dean Hill storage facility use renewable electricity.

We have cut emissions at V&A Storehouse by improving how we manage to the building as well as a more efficient heating network. Since opening in May 2025, carbon emissions reduced by 50%.

Scope 1 and 2 emissions by site

Carbon impact beyond buildings and energy use (Scope 3)

Sope 3 emissions have increased slightly by 4% in 2025/26 compared with 2024/25. This increase was because of construction and maintenance work for V&A East Museum, which opened in May 2026, and major projects at V&A South Kensington, including the Gilbert Gallery.

Scope 3 emission

We have seen reductions in 2025/26 in object transport emissions due to the completion of the Blythe House move and the David Bowie archive to V&A East Storehouse. We worked with our object transport agents to collect activity-based data, a more accurate way to calculate transport emissions.

Our business travel emissions increased due to more accurate carbon reporting. We will continue to improve the quality of our data with the move to a more accurate data collections with a new travel platform from April 2027. This platform will enable staff to see the carbon impact of their travel when booking.

Our performance against 2030 target

We track progress of our 2030 targets against our 2023/24 baseline.

Scope 1 and 2 progress against 2030 near term target

We have achieved 73% reduction from our baseline, against a target of 42% by 2030.

Scope 3 progress against 2030 near term target

We have an absolute emissions reduction target of 18% by 2030 for object travel, waste, water, business travel and partner sites (V&A Wedgwood and V&A Dundee).

From our 2023/24 baseline, we have cut scope 3 emissions by 34%. We have seen large reductions in object travel and waste.

To improve our scope 3 purchased goods and services data, we contacted our top 40 suppliers (by emissions) in 2024/25. 33% of those surveyed were able to be included in our total emissions as supplier-based emissions, rather than spend. This allowed for a more accurate understanding of our carbon impact with our supply chain, and how we can work together to reduce emissions.

How we measure emissions

Emissions are calculated, in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, using carbon accounting software Normative. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are reported are location based.

Scope 3 emissions are calculated using mostly a spend-based approach. Activity data is collected for water, waste and object travel. Further activity data is collected through data requests in tenders where appropriate and collecting supplier emissions through supplier engagement surveys.

Total emissions

Our emissions are calculated in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol using Normative, our carbon accounting software.

Around 70% of our emissions are from purchased goods and services, investments, electricity and upstream transportation, which includes object shipping.

Our total emissions in 2024/25 were 18,481 tCO2e, equal to 4.7kg CO2e per staff member and visitor.

Last year, our emissions increased by 10%, an increase that we anticipated. This was due to a few factors, including reporting more data. Last year we reported our partner site, V&A Wedgwood, for the first time, as well as fugitive emissions (emissions from AC units). We also had increases in emissions due to growing as a family of museums with the opening of V&A East Storehouse. We expect our emissions to grow over the next few years with the opening of V&A East Museum.

Scope 1 was 185 tCO2e (-48% from 23/24), scope 2 was 4,132 tCO2e (+8% from 23/24) and scope 3 was 14,161 tCO2e (+12% from 23/24).

Scope 1 and 2 emissions

Scope 1 emissions decreased across all sites by 48% due to the closure of Blythe House, as well as a temporary boiler at South Kensington which was used until winter 2024 due to a burst pipe – this is no longer in use.

Scope 2 emissions increased by 8% with South Kensington producing 90% of emissions. There was higher heat demand at South Kensington, which increased on-site emissions by 20%. This year was the first full year of V&A East Storehouse being operational and improved building management control led to a decrease in emissions of 65%.

Scope 3 emissions

Scope 3 emissions increased by 12%, mainly driven by increases in franchise emissions from our partner sites (V&A Wedgwood Collection) (+47%), purchased goods and services (+16%), employee commuting (+15%) and investments (+12%).

Emissions from operational waste dropped by 30%, and fuel and energy-related activities decreased by 12%. The increase in emissions from purchased goods and services is due to construction and maintenance projects undertaken at V&A South Kensington and V&A East Museum.

Tackling climate change cannot be done alone. We are keen to learn from others, share expertise and work with cultural, heritage and academic partners locally, nationally and globally.

This includes actively participating in networks such as Culture in Crisis and the Bizot Museum Group, and collaborating with peers to generate insight and innovation in museum practice.

South Kensington Zero Emissions Nature Positive Neighbourhood (SK ZEN+)

London Climate Ready Partnership

Bizot

Find out more about the Bizot Green Protocol and handbooks

Every day we're making progress on our sustainability journey. From reusing exhibition materials, to working with creatives, find out how we're embedding sustainability across the museum on our blog.

Want to play your part? Take a look at our practical resources for sustainable living.