Corporate Environmental Report 2021/22

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 2021/22 the Covid-19 Pandemic continued to affect the way NRW has operated. By following Welsh Government advice, staff have continued to predominantly work from home, although travel restrictions did ease towards the end of the year.

The NRW Adfywio (Renewal) Programme is currently investigating new ways of working to enable NRW to be an agile, resilient, and efficient organisation that leads Wales in addressing the nature and climate emergencies.

By working with partners and communities we champion the environment, supporting a green and just recovery for the people of Wales.

Summary of performance

In 2021/22 we:

  • increased our carbon footprint by 7% in relation to scope 1, scope 2 and currently measured scope 3 emissions compared with 2020/21 data
  • reduced our mains electricity usage in occupied buildings and depots for the eighth year in a row, a 2% reduction in 2021/22 compared with 2020/21 data
  • reduced our overall water use by 4% compared with 2020/21 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 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

tCO2e

4,199

3,994

2,579

2,755

Energy consumption

million kWh

6.3

7.1

5.4

5.0

Energy expenditure

£k                        

583

729

628

604

Waste generated

tonnes

966

1,772

793

1,212

Waste expenditure

£k

218

333

199

245

Water consumption

m3

40,115

42,127

33,116

31,780

Water expenditure

£k

30

13

18

17

Table 1 reflects relative change for key areas in the last year.

In summary:

  • organisational greenhouse gas emissions increased as covid restrictions eased, however in 2021/22 there has been a 31% reduction in emissions compared with 2019/20 (pre-Covid-19)
  • energy carbon emissions reduced for the third year in a row, a reduction of 33% in 2021/22 compared with 2018/19

More detail around each component can be found within the related sections of this report.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Our greenhouse gas emissions are outlined below:

Scope 1 direct emissions increased by 7%, this was due to an increase in the amount of fuel used in our pool cars and by our operational teams.

Scope 2 energy indirect emissions decreased by 20%, this was due to further decreases in electricity use in occupied buildings.

Scope 3 other indirect emissions increased by 86%, this was due to an increase in grey fleet miles and an increase in the amount of waste generated.

Table 2: greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions Units 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Scope 1: direct emissions

tCO2e

2,499

2,129

1,568

1,683

Scope 2: energy indirect emissions

tCO2e

1,077

1,130

764

611

Scope 3: other indirect emissions

tCO2e

624

735

247

461

Total greenhouse gas emissions

tCO2e

4,199

3,994

2,579

2,755

Outside of scopes (i.e. biomass)

tCO2e

184

182

132

150

Note 1: Data not externally verified – Limited Assurance – Well to Tank emissions are not included.

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 land use and sequestration, supply chain data, aggregates use in construction and timber use are also not included.

Energy

Total energy emissions decreased by 151 tCO2e a 13% reduction in 2021/22 compared with 2020/21 data.

Total energy use decreased by 37,968 kWh a 1% reduction in 2021/22 compared with 2020/21 data.

This data includes; electric, mains gas, LPG, heating oil and biomass from offices, depots and unmanned sites such as gauging and pumping stations.

The amount of renewable energy generated at our own sites increased by 11%, this now means 4.5% of the energy used on the NRW estate was from self-generated renewable energy.

Table 3: energy consumption

Resource use - energy Units 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Energy used occupied sites

kWh

4,973,616

5,131,465

4,027,176

3,989,208

Energy used occupied sites

tCO2e

1,236

1,188

876

832

Energy used unmanned sites

kWh

1,298,317

1,985,005

1,407,657

1,041,011

Energy used unmanned sites

tCO2e

367

507

328

221

Renewable energy generated

kWh

167,879

161,193

161,320

179,034

Energy generated from renewables

%

3.4

3.1

4.0

4.5

Total energy used - consumption

kWh

6,271,933

7,116,470

5,434,833

5,030,219

Total energy used - consumption

tCO2e

1,603

1,696

1,204

1,053

Total energy used - expenditure

£k

583

729

628

604

Water

Overall water usage decreased by 3,994 m3 a 14% reduction in 2021/22 compared with 2020/21 data. Our office water use intensity (m3/FTE) is 1.1, 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,  highlighting our commitment to water efficiency, whilst recognising the environmental benefits of efficient use of one of the most essential of Wales natural resources.

Table 4: water consumption

Resource use - Water Units 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Total mains water - consumption

m3

12,308

11,755

4,653

7,302

Total abstracted water - consumption

m3

27,747

30,324

28,463

24,478

Office mains water - consumption

m3

5,987

6,180

2,107

2,639

Office abstracted water - consumption

m3

32

26

4

13

Non-office mains water -consumption

m3

6,321

5,575

2,546

4,662

Non-office abstracted water - consumption

m3

27,715

30,298

28,459

24,465

Water use intensity (for office use)

m3 / FTE

3.2

2.9

0.9

1.1

Total water - consumption

m3

40,115

42,127

33,116

31,780

Total water - consumption

tCO2e

14

15

11

7

Total water - expenditure

£k

30

13

18

17

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 increased by 992,497 miles a 29% increase in 2021/22 compared with 2020/21 data.

The increase in business travel was mainly due to easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

No air travel occurred in 2021/22 and train travel only increased slightly, still 95% less than pre-Covid-19 levels in 2018/19.

Travel in electric vehicles reached the highest level to date at 49,656 miles in 20221/22.

Table 5: business travel

Business travel Units 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

NRW badged fleet (Not including EVs)

miles

5,562,246

4,934,687

3,020,287

3,553,215

NRW badged fleet

£k

789

720

455

642

Grey fleet

miles

614,868

554,375

266,804

627,456

Grey fleet

£k

277

249

120

283

Hire vehicle

miles

277,390

512,209

153,361

154,988

Hire vehicle

£k

124

195

181

180

Train

miles

993,213

1,258,211

3,007

67,995

Train

£k

328

397

< 1

22

Air

miles

50,299

26,663

0

0

Air

£k

7

7

0

0

Bicycle

miles

3,714

4,012

2,259

3,764

Bicycle

£k

< 1

< 1

< 1

< 1

Motorbike

miles

1,155

729

110

911

Motorbike

£k

< 1

< 1

< 1

< 1

Electric vehicles (EVs)

miles

32,832

26,374

19,660

49,656

Total business travel

miles

7,535,717

7,317,260

3,465,488

4,457,985

Total business travel

tCO2e

2,002

1,810

1,085

1,344

Total business travel

£k

1,525

1,568

757

1,127

Waste minimisation and management

The amount of waste generated each year varies, depending on operational requirements and the amount of fly-tip waste.

In 2021/22 NRW published a Plastic Footprint Reduction Policy with the overarching aim to reduce NRWs internal plastic footprint further and by working with others, positively influence the behaviours of partners and stakeholders.

Table 6: waste generated

Waste Units 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22

Office waste - landfill

tonnes

286

90

23

111

Office waste - landfill

tCO2e

168

53

10

52

Office waste - landfill

£k

25

24

31

30

Office waste - recycled / reused

tonnes

431

972

460

613

Office waste - recycled / reused

tCO2e

9

21

10

13

Office waste - incinerated

tonnes

31

31

18

21

Office waste - incinerated

tCO2e

< 1

< 1

< 1

< 1

Operational and fly-tip waste

tonnes

218

680

292

467

Operational and fly-tip waste

tCO2e

98

269

111

181

Total waste

tonnes

966

1,772

793

1,212

Total waste

tCO2e

276

343

132

246

Total waste

£k

218

333

199

245

Environmental incidents

In 2021/22 there were fifteen environmental incidents because of our work or that of contractors we manage, a reduction of eight incidents compared with 2020/21.

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.

Governance and reporting

We report annually our carbon emission data as part of the Welsh Governments Wales Public Sector carbon emissions reporting.

We collect the data used within this environmental report through a combination of meter readings (e.g. gas, electricity), invoices (e.g. fuel card purchases), supplier’s data and finance data, using the most accurate source/s we have available.

Future strategy

In line with our current corporate environmental objectives we want to:

  • Continue to decarbonise the NRW buildings estate and fleet via the NRW Adfywio (Renewal) Programme
  • Embed the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles into NRW’s core values to influence overall reduction of waste produced because of our business activities
  • 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
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