Carbon reduction
In 2006 we featured in The Times as a carbon champion, reporting on our work with The Carbon Trust, which reviewed our UK offices to identify ways in which we could reduce our 'carbon footprint'. Ideas ranged from simple actions like turning equipment off, to more unusual solutions such as running biomass boilers and hybrid cars.
Having already achieved a significant reduction in our carbon emissions between 2001 and 2006, we developed a 3-year carbon management plan with The Carbon Trust to target a further reduction of over 10% in our FPLP and FPI head offices in the UK and Isle of Man (using 2007 levels as a base).
In 2008 energy use increased by 1%, from 22767 MWh to 23085 MWh, so unfortunately missing our target to reduce energy use by 5%. Reasons for this include an improvement in the completeness of our reporting figures, as well as the postponement of lighting projects in two of our largest offices for budgetary reasons. However, carbon emissions have reduced once again, from 12314 tonnes (2007) to 12028 tonnes, despite our figures now being more complete with the inclusion of fuel oil and more accurate through the elimination building energy use estimations.
Our carbon emissions are primarily related to our buildings energy use and our transport practices. In 2008, we purchased 86% of electricity used through a green tariff. We achieved our 2008 target to install additional video conferencing systems and have piloted an online meeting system, which enables employees to view and exchange information across sites via their computer screens. Our target for 2009 is to maintain current energy use levels at head office sites.
At present, we report “direct” emissions made by the company on its sites, and indirect emissions from purchases of electricity, heat and steam. These emissions are reported in terms of Scope 1 & 2 as set out in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Currently we do not report on Scope 3 emissions produced through the use of hire cars, private cars used for business travel, train journeys, and flights, which it is not necessary to report for a basic level of compliance with the GHG Protocol. However, from March 2009 a company-wide online portal to purchase train tickets and flights will be in operation, and it will provide the necessary data for use in emissions reporting. In relation to the use of hire cars and private cars used for business purposes, expenses systems will be revised so that in the future, the company will report on these emissions. This is particularly relevant, as the business no longer maintains a pool car fleet as of March 2009.
'Switch it off' Campaign
In 2008 we launched a new climate change awareness-raising campaign, 'switch it off' aimed at employees. Posters were distributed and desktop wallpaper downloaded to promote the campaign. Our security personnel carry out spot checks as they patrol the buildings at night to check whether our people are remembering to 'switch it off'!
The campaign encourages employees to:
- Switch off desktop PCs at the end of the day, and monitors over lunch or when they attend meetings
- Unplug mobile chargers when not in use and
- Remember to switch off faxes and photocopiers at the end of each day.
Waste Management
During 2007 we improved our waste management systems to better stream waste at source. We recycled 50% of our waste in 2008, meaning we are:
- Diverting waste from landfill, which reduces methane emissions (a significant contributor to climate change), and
- Recycling old paper into new, which is less energy intensive than producing virgin paper and so creates fewer carbon emissions.
Total waste generated fell by 7% from 796 tonnes (2007) to 746 tonnes, missing our 2008 target (15% reduction in landfill waste). New initiatives to recycle glass and plastics were introduced in 2008, but further initiatives will be needed in 2009 to minimise waste to landfill.
The proportion of our waste we recycle has slightly decreased to 50% (53% 2007) of the waste we generate meaning we failed to reach our 2008 target to increase paper recycling by 15%. However, we have not achieved our 2007 target to increase paper recycling by 15%. This is because we moved to a more robust measurement process in 2008, using actual weight measures rather than estimates by volume per bag recycled. Through this we estimate we slightly over-estimated the amount we recycled in 2007. Our 2008 waste management target is to achieve 5% reduction in landfill waste from head office sites.
During 2008 we continued to report our environmental performance via the Carbon Disclosure Project to a group of over 385 institutional investors. Our participation in the Carbon Disclosure Project provides valuable, investment-relevant information to current and potential investors, allowing them to assess the potential risks and opportunities relating to climate change.
Related link
We are helping to raise awareness of climate change with our employees through our 'switch it off' campaign.
