Corporate Environmental Report 2020/21
Our Vision
Proud to be leading the way to a better future for Wales by managing the environment and natural resources of Wales sustainably.
Our Purpose
Through the new Environment (Wales) Act 2016, we
- must pursue the sustainable management of natural resources, and;
- apply the principles of sustainable management of natural resources.
Introduction
Our environmental management system (EMS) supports Natural Resources Wales (NRW) vision and purpose by maintaining our certification to the ISO14001:2015 environmental standard, our forest certification against the UK Woodland Assurance Standard and by reducing our own environmental impact and carbon footprint.
In 2020/21 the Covid-19 Pandemic has dramatically affected the way NRW has operated. By following Welsh Government advice, staff have predominantly worked from home, with offices closed or with restricted access. There have also been restrictions on travel and on working field arrangements.
This has led to significant reductions in energy, water and waste at our offices and depots and significant reductions in business mileage. All of which have led to overall carbon emission reductions.
We are now also developing methodology to calculate and report NRW staff home working emissions.
Summary of Performance
In 2020/21 we have:
- reduced our overall carbon footprint by 35.4% in relation to scope 1, scope 2 and currently measured scope 3 emissions compared with 2019/20 data;
- reduced our mains electricity usage in occupied buildings and depots for the seventh year in a row, a 23.3% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data;
- reduced our overall business miles by 52.6% compared with 2019/20 data;
- retained certification to the ISO14001 environmental standard and the UK Woodland Assurance Standard, following independent external audits and verification.
Table 1: Corporate environmental report summary table
Category | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
tCO2e |
4,387 |
4,199 |
3,994 |
2,579 |
Energy consumption |
million kWh |
6.0 |
6.3 |
7.1 |
5.4 |
Energy expenditure |
£k |
618 |
583 |
729 |
628 |
Waste generated |
tonnes |
1,141 |
966 |
1,772 |
793 |
Waste expenditure |
£k |
273 |
218 |
333 |
199 |
Water consumption |
m3 |
50,908 |
40,115 |
42,127 |
33,116 |
Water expenditure |
£k |
25 |
30 |
13 |
18 |
Table 1 reflects relative change for key areas in the last year.
In summary:
- organisational greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1,415 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e);
- energy, travel, waste and water all decreased, mainly because of the way NRW operated in 2020/21 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
More detail around each component can be found within the related sections of this report.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Carbon emissions decreased in 2020/21 by 35.4% compared with the previous year.
Scope 1 direct emissions decreased by 26.4%, this was due to a decrease in the amount of fuel used in our pool cars and by our operational teams.
Scope 2 energy indirect emissions decreased by 32.4%, this was due to a decrease in electricity usage in under-occupied buildings because of restricted access.
Scope 3 other indirect emissions decreased by 66.4%, this was due to a decrease in business miles due to travel restrictions and the amount of waste generated.
Table 2: Greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scope 1: Direct emissions |
tCO2e |
2,466 |
2,499 |
2,129 |
1,568 |
Scope 2: Energy indirect emissions |
tCO2e |
1,317 |
1,077 |
1,130 |
764 |
Scope 3: Other indirect emissions |
tCO2e |
603 |
624 |
735 |
247 |
Total gross Greenhouse Gas emissions |
tCO2e |
4,387 |
4,199 |
3,994 |
2,579 |
Outside of scopes (i.e. biomass) |
tCO2e |
208 |
187 |
184 |
132 |
Note 1: Data not externally verified – Limited Assurance.
Note 2: The Scope 3 other indirect greenhouse gas emissions include; train travel, air travel, grey fleet travel, lease car travel, hire car travel, water and waste.
Note 3: Scope 3 emissions from the purchase of goods and services, aggregates use in construction and timber use are not included.
Energy
Total energy use decreased by 1,681,637 kWh a 23.6% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data.
This includes; electric, mains gas, LPG, heating oil and biomass from offices, depots and unmanned sites such as gauging and pumping stations.
Three sites on the NRW estate were fitted with new PV solar panels, this increased the energy generated by PV solar panels by 17.4 %. However, due to less energy generated from hydro on the estate, the overall energy generated from renewables remained constant.
Total energy emissions decreased by 492 tCO2e a 29.0% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data.
Table 3: Energy consumption
Resource Use - Energy | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy used occupied sites |
kWh |
4,918,340 |
4,973,616 |
5,131,465 |
4,027,176 |
Energy used occupied sites |
tCO2e |
1,436 |
1,236 |
1,188 |
876 |
Energy used unmanned sites |
kWh |
1,122,103 |
1,298,317 |
1,985,005 |
1,407,657 |
Energy used unmanned sites |
tCO2e |
395 |
367 |
507 |
328 |
Renewable energy generated |
kWh |
106,856 |
167,879 |
161,193 |
161,320 |
% total energy used as renewables |
% |
2.2 |
3.4 |
3.1 |
4.0 |
Total Energy used - consumption |
kWh |
6,040,443 |
6,271,933 |
7,116,470 |
5,434,833 |
Total Energy used - consumption |
tCO2e |
1,830 |
1,603 |
1,696 |
1,204 |
Total Energy used - expenditure |
£k |
618 |
583 |
729 |
628 |
Water
Mains water usage decreased by 7,150 m3 a 60.6% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data. Our water use intensity (m3/FTE) also decreased from 2.9 to 1.0. The average intensity for water of a typical office is 4.0.
NRW has been awarded the Waterwise Checkmark for several offices and visitor centres.
“NRW is proud to be the first UK regulator to be awarded the Waterwise Checkmark, highlighting our commitment to water efficiency at our offices and visitor centres. We recognise the environmental benefits of efficient use of one of the most essential of Wales’ natural resources and are committed to making further efficiency savings across our estate, reducing our water footprint and climate impact. We will look to share our experience and knowledge with partners, so that we can all play our part to make water efficiency savings and help create the Wales we want to see in the future.”
Clare Pillman, NRW Chief Executive
Table 4: Water Consumption
Resource Use - Water | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total mains water -consumption |
m3 |
11,894 |
12,368 |
11,803 |
4,653 |
Total abstracted water - consumption |
m3 |
39,014 |
27,747 |
30,324 |
28,463 |
Office mains water -consumption |
m3 |
5,555 |
6,047 |
6,228 |
2,107 |
Office abstracted water - consumption |
m3 |
22 |
32 |
26 |
4 |
Non-office mains water -consumption |
m3 |
6,339 |
6,321 |
5,575 |
2,546 |
Non-office abstracted water - consumption |
m3 |
38,992 |
27,715 |
30,298 |
28,459 |
Water use intensity (for office use) |
m3 / FTE |
3.0 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
1.0 |
Total water - consumption |
m3 |
50,908 |
40,115 |
42,127 |
33,116 |
Total water - consumption |
tCO2e |
18 |
14 |
15 |
11 |
Total water - expenditure |
£k |
25 |
30 |
13 |
18 |
Travel
Our travel needs include; travel to manage sites, responding to serious environmental incidents, taking samples, dealing with flooding, site meetings and inter-office travel.
Business travel miles decreased by 3,385,712 miles a 52.6% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data.
The reduction in business travel was mainly due to the Welsh Government advice of not to travel due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Essential flood defence, emergency response and forestry works continued whilst following Welsh Government guidelines for key workers.
No air travel occurred in 2020/21 and train travel reduced by 99%, again due to the Covid-19 Pandemic travel restrictions.
Travel in electric vehicles decreased again in 2020/21, several factors contributed to this, the need for off-road travel for essential works and no rapid charging infrastructure in place.
Table 5: Business Travel
Business travel | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
NRW badged fleet (Not including EVs) |
miles |
5,440,945 |
5,562,246 |
4,934,687 |
3,020,287 |
NRW badged fleet |
£k |
749 |
789 |
720 |
455 |
Grey fleet |
miles |
590,998 |
614,868 |
554,375 |
266,804 |
Grey fleet |
£k |
266 |
277 |
249 |
120 |
Hire vehicle |
miles |
261,039 |
277,390 |
512,209 |
153,361 |
Hire vehicle |
£k |
88 |
124 |
195 |
181 |
Train |
miles |
938,418 |
993,213 |
1,258,211 |
3,007 |
Train |
£k |
183 |
328 |
397 |
< 1 |
Air |
miles |
33,661 |
50,299 |
26,663 |
0 |
Air |
£k |
5 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
Bicycle |
miles |
2,301 |
3,714 |
4,012 |
2,259 |
Bicycle |
£k |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
Motorbike |
miles |
1,735 |
1,155 |
729 |
110 |
Motorbike |
£k |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
Electric vehicles (EVs) |
miles |
0 |
32,832 |
26,374 |
19,660 |
Total business travel |
miles |
7,269,097 |
7,535,717 |
7,317,260 |
3,465,488 |
Total business travel |
tCO2e |
2,019 |
2,002 |
1,810 |
1,087 |
Total business travel |
£k |
1,291 |
1,525 |
1,568 |
757 |
Waste Minimisation and Management
Total waste generated decreased by 979 tonnes a 55.2% reduction in 2020/21 compared with 2019/20 data.
Table 6: Waste Generated
Waste | Units | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office waste - Landfill |
tonnes |
213 |
286 |
90 |
23 |
Office waste - Landfill |
tCO2e |
125 |
168 |
53 |
10 |
Office waste - Landfill |
£k |
25 |
25 |
24 |
31 |
Office waste - Recycled / Reused |
tonnes |
600 |
431 |
972 |
460 |
Office waste - Recycled / Reused |
tCO2e |
13 |
9 |
21 |
10 |
Office waste - Incinerated |
tonnes |
27 |
31 |
31 |
18 |
Office waste - Incinerated |
tCO2e |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
< 1 |
Operational and fly-tip waste |
tonnes |
301 |
218 |
680 |
292 |
Operational and fly-tip waste |
tCO2e |
135 |
98 |
269 |
111 |
Total waste |
tonnes |
1,141 |
966 |
1,772 |
793 |
Total waste |
tCO2e |
274 |
276 |
343 |
132 |
Total waste |
£k |
273 |
218 |
333 |
199 |
Environmental incidents
In 2020/21 there were twenty-three environmental incidents because of our work or that of contractors we manage.
When incidents occur because of our work (or that of our contractors), we review what has happened, and act to address the root cause of the incident.
Sustainable Procurement
Our Vision for Procurement is to provide effective procurement leadership and direction in support of Natural Resources Wales mission and values and embed the fundamental concepts of a learning organisation with the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) as its central organising principle.
The procurement and carbon positive teams have been working collaboratively to address emissions in our supply chain. Consideration of carbon has been embedded into the procurement process for two significant contracts. In addition, a progress to date, lessons learnt, and forward look paper has been prepared and shared with the Welsh Government.
Governance and Reporting
We report on our carbon footprint as part of our performance framework, which is reported by the Executive Team to the Board (in open public session) four times each year.
We collect the data used within this sustainability report through a combination of meter readings (e.g. gas, electricity), invoices (e.g. fuel card purchases), supplier’s data (e.g. train miles) and finance data, using the most accurate source/s we have available. We also look to minimise use of any estimated data in our reporting.
Carbon Positive Project
We worked with colleagues to ensure decarbonisation is a key principle in both the ‘fleet strategy’ and the ‘accommodation strategy review refresh’ projects.
Energy modelling and the development of low carbon pathways at our eleven biggest emitting sites has been commissioned with works continuing in 2021/22.
Two new solar photovoltaic schemes have been installed at Cynrig hatchery (29kW) and the Clawdd Newydd office (4.8kW).
The team prepared a paper for decision, on the use of hydrogenated vegetable oil fuel (HVO) for NRW which recommended an HVO trial. The paper was endorsed by the Climate Change and Decarbonisation Change Programme board.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic we are now also developing methodology to calculate and report NRW staff home working emissions.
Homeworking emissions associated with home heating and power use were estimated to be 1083.9 tCO2e and 118.9 tCO2e respectively in 2020/21. This was an increase in homeworking energy emissions of 444.6% from the previous year, driven by the COVID-19 homeworking directive. Home heat and power usage were estimated per FTE employee following the EcoAct Homeworking Emissions Whitepaper methodology applied to NRW data on FTE numbers and office desk bookings.
Increased homeworking also meant that our staff commute emissions decreased by 95.4% from the previous year to 114.1 tCO2e in 2020/21.
Future Strategy
In line with our current corporate strategy we want to:
- Continue to deliver the NRW carbon positive action plan to include; retrofit buildings with solar PV, develop an electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, increase the EV mileage, identify and deliver a programme of peatland projects in order to further reduce our carbon emissions;
- Develop mechanisms for active and sustainable travel to be the favoured choice of NRW commuter travel and for appropriate business journeys;
- Continue to maintain certification to the ISO14001 environmental standard for all NRW activities and certification to the UK Woodland Assurance Standard for the Welsh Government Woodland Estate.