CR Report 2011
Climate change
Our car fleet constitutes nearly half of our Scope 1 emissions. In 2011, in addition to reducing the car fleet by 9%, we also introduced new green car policies at a local level, increasing the global average car efficiency from 153g/km in 2010 to 146g/km in 2011, and achieved a 17% reduction in car fleet emissions, resulting in an overall 8% reduction in Scope 1 emissions.
Scope 2 (net) emissions are responsible for the greatest share of direct greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency projects in data centres and office locations and continued consolidation of space achieved a 6% reduction in absolute terms and 5% in emissions intensity.
Scope 3 business travel data is collected through our travel provider, BCD, and covers 91% of our operations by revenue. Although we continued to achieve an increase in rail travel with 16% more journeys in 2011 compared to 2010, air travel was responsible for 97% of our Scope 3 impact. We achieved an 11% reduction from 2010 overall. To achieve the 15% reduction target by 2015, we will continue to promote travel alternatives including video conference (we held nearly 10,000 meetings via video conference in 2011 but have the capacity to expand this further).
Scope 3 other:
In 2011, we continued to expand capture of indirect Scope 3 emissions beyond business travel. Though we are continuing to identify material areas and develop methodology, much of the data in this area relies on estimates and thus we will continue to separate these out from total emissions.
- Supply chain (excluding business travel): 569,125 tCO2e
This total was calculated by CarbonRiver using its CED A dataset and proprietary analysis tool, CarbonEngine. The result was split by country and category and is considerably more than the 386,226 tCO2e we identified in our heat mapping exercise in 2010 using Defra conversion factors (annex 13). Pulp and paper suppliers remain a major contributor, even as we decrease the amount of paper we purchase year-on-year. - Home based employees: 1,378 tCO2e
18% of our workforce is home based and for the first time we have attempted to calculate the impact they have using reimbursement rates from the UK’s HM Revenues and Customs for home working, and the average 2011 price per kWh from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. To improve the reliability of the data, we intend to carry out pilot projects to directly measure actual energy usage by home based employees. - Commuting: 46,017 tCO2e
We surveyed commuting habits of 17% of our workforce and extrapolated results to cover 100% of employees. Through the Reed Elsevier Environmental Standards programme, 89% of employees were covered by a local travel plan in 2011 but there is more we can do to encourage alternatives to single car use, such as carpooling, cycling, and public transport. - Water: Reed Elsevier 133 tCO 2e; key suppliers (30%) 578 tCO2e
We collect emissions associated with water usage through our Group Environmental Survey and in our supply chain through our Socially Responsible Suppliers survey. Emissions have been calculated using Defra conversion factors 2011 – August (annex 9a).
In 2011, we updated our Climate Change Statement to specifically reference our support for the globally recognised target of an 80% absolute reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. We also outlined our commitment to mitigation and adaptation and our belief in the need for an ambitious, robust, and equitable policy on climate change. As such, we signed the 2°C Challenge Communiqué, the fifth in a series of petitions developed by The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group, and continue to engage with governments on climate change regulation. As an endorser of the UN Global Compact’s Caring for Climate initiative, and through the European Network for Sustainable Business, we share good practice with others and support voluntary codes of practice.
In 2011, we were included in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for the fourth year, and utilised our reporting experience to help develop a free online carbon reporting tool for small/ medium enterprises in our sector, through the Publishers and Booksellers Associations Environmental Action Group, in consultation with the UK’s Environment Agency and Defra.