Westcon-Comstor cuts emissions 42% ahead of 2030 target

Westcon-Comstor has cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 42% since 2022, leaving it ahead of its 2030 target.

Renewable sources now account for 54% of its global electricity consumption, up from 50% a year earlier, as it works towards sourcing all electricity from renewables by the end of the decade.

The figures were disclosed in Westcon-Comstor's latest Responsible Business Report, covering the financial year to the end of February 2026. The results reflect progress against climate goals validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

Westcon-Comstor distributes cybersecurity, networking and hybrid cloud products and services, and operates in more than 50 countries. Its target is to reduce combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 from its 2022 baseline.

Reporting changes

Alongside the emissions update, the group said it had strengthened its environmental, social and governance reporting through changes to data collection, methodology and internal controls. The latest reporting cycle is its first aligned with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards, as companies prepare for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.

During the year, the distributor installed electricity sub-meters across strategic offices and logistics facilities, added environmental key performance indicators to self-service reporting tools, and introduced global responsible business travel guidelines.

On-site renewable energy generation now supports operations at facilities in the UK and Australia. The company also plans to expand renewable electricity procurement outside Europe and introduce a company car policy that prioritises electric and hybrid vehicles.

Scope 3 rise

The report also showed a rise in Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions across the value chain. Westcon-Comstor said those emissions increased by 6% during the year because of business growth and the manufacture, distribution and use of hardware products.

The company is seeking to improve Scope 3 reporting through greater supplier engagement, wider data coverage and methodological changes. It added that better access to supplier-specific data should allow more targeted emissions reduction efforts.

This remains a significant challenge for technology distributors because a large share of their carbon footprint often sits outside direct operations, particularly in product manufacturing, freight and downstream use. More detailed supplier data has become increasingly important as companies face tighter expectations from regulators, customers and investors over the quality of sustainability disclosures.

Westcon-Comstor has also been building systems to track energy consumption more closely. A new energy management system was rolled out across its European sites after a trial in three UK locations, allowing the company to centralise electricity usage data and monitor consumption in greater detail.

Laura Mozden outlined the company's position in a statement accompanying the report. "Our latest Responsible Business report reflects meaningful advances in both our environmental performance and the maturity of our ESG management and reporting," said Laura Mozden, Global Head of ESG, Westcon-Comstor.

"The progress we've made on emissions reduction and renewable electricity is encouraging, but significant work remains. The biggest challenge is reducing emissions across our value chain, which is why we will continue to focus on improving data quality and driving deeper engagement with channel partners and vendors, while building the governance and reporting frameworks needed to support long-term sustainability improvements," Mozden said.

David Grant said the company views the issue as part of its wider operating strategy. "Expectations around ESG are becoming more structured, and it's important that businesses can demonstrate measurable success," said David Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Westcon-Comstor.

"While we're proud of the progress we've made, we view sustainability as a strategic business priority rather than a collection of short-term milestones. Meaningful change will depend on stronger collaboration across our value chain and the wider technology ecosystem. Our focus remains on supporting partners and vendors to help build a more resilient and sustainable IT channel," Grant said.