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Environmental Impact Reporting
We conduct annual detailed environmental impact reporting on our largest sites by collecting and measuring data on energy and water consumption, waste production, disposal and recycling, and emissions resulting from manufacturing and warehousing. This audit is compared against annual RE environmental targets of achieving 50% recycling of our total waste, reducing energy and water consumption by 10% in 2008 from a 2003 benchmark, and reducing 2010 CO2 emissions by 10% from a 2003 benchmark.
In 2009, we achieved absolute reductions in production paper use and travel emissions, and recycled a higher percentage of waste. That same year, our absolute gross CO2 emissions increased by 10%; 157,137 tCO2 in 2008 vs 173, 425 tCO2 in 2009. On a like basis, without the ChoicePoint acquisition, we would have achieved an absolute reduction of 16% in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. There was an equivalent 5% decrease in the intensity ratio since 2008, and a 23% decrease since 2006.
The majority of our energy usage (85%) is from electricity, led by consumption at our data centres - the transition from paper to e-publishing. Data centres are responsible for 34% of energy consumption (vs. 61% for offices and 5% for warehouse/production facilities). Data centre energy usage increased by 14% in 2009 without ChoicePoint sites, and by 44% when included.
Fuel
In 2007-2008, RE commissioned Best Foot Forward, an Oxford based consultancy to analyze the ecological and carbon footprint of the Elsevier journal, Fuel. The objective of the study was to help to clearly determine the footprint of alternative channels and communicate results to journal readers and the wider industry.
The study identified 24% associated carbon product emissions from commuting. To encourage employees to find the lowest impact travel option, the new RE environmental Standards program promotes home working, biking to work and better plarking options for employees who car pool.
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