To govern the identified risk and negative value chain impact from using virgin materials, we have adopted a ‘Resource management policy’, covering all of our activities and locations. The policy’s objective is to ensure that we minimise the use and depletion of virgin resources by developing circular value chains together with our suppliers, where feasible, and guide our efforts on sustainable sourcing. It further addresses our adherence to the waste hierarchy, prioritising waste avoidance by reducing and reusing before recycling.

We have identified key materials fundamental to the construction of our global portfolio of renewable energy projects across offshore and onshore wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Steel is a primary focus at this stage, given its significant role in renewable energy infrastructure and its high potential for recyclability. The use of scrap steel is a norm in steel production, with its content varying across geographies and reflecting established industry practices. Approximately 80% of the steel we source used in the production of steel plates for foundations comes from Europe, where supplier data indicates that, on average, 35% of the material used in these plates derive from scrap. While we account for geographic variability in our presentation, reflected in a range of 20 - 35%, our current estimates place us at the upper end. In addition to steel, critical raw materials, such as copper, aluminium, and rare earth elements (REEs), are essential for renewable energy technologies but present negative impacts and risks related to the depletion of virgin materials and the scarcity of supply. Improving the recyclability of materials such as plastics and glass fibres, including composites used in wind turbine blades, is a priority to reduce reliance on finite resources and ensure sustainable materials.