Current targets
Key Performance Indicators |
Target |
Absolute
achievement
to date |
Normalised
achievement
to date
(Absolute/EBITDA) |
| CO2 emissions (2003-2010)* |
-10% |
0% |
-27% |
| Total energy (2003-2008) |
-10% |
3% |
-25% |
| Water (2003-2008) |
-10% |
-11% |
-35% |
| Travel emissions (2005-2009) |
-2% |
-10% |
-35% |
| Waste recycled (2010) |
60% |
46% |
n/a |
- *
- Covers GHG Protocol Scopes 1 and 2 and business travel in Scope 3; renewable electricity restated at standard electricity rates
We believe it is important to set and achieve absolute environmental targets. We include normalised results based on Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) to show our performance relative to changes in our business, such as acquisitions and divestments, organic growth, and outsourcing.
We began setting environmental targets, based on internal and external expertise, in 2003. By the close of 2008, we exceeded our water and travel emissions targets, but CO2 emissions and energy targets have proved more difficult. As our business continues to expand and online delivery increases, we have experienced corresponding increases in energy usage at our data centres. Energy reduction efforts have not reversed the trend. On a normalised basis, we achieved between 25% and 35% reductions in our key impact areas between 2003 and 2008.
New targets
Key Performance Indicators |
Target |
Baseline |
Target date |
| CO2 emissions |
-10% |
2006 |
2015 |
| Total energy |
-5% |
2008 |
2015 |
| Travel emissions |
-5% |
2008 |
2015 |
| Water |
-10% |
2008 |
2015 |
| Waste recycled |
70% |
n/a |
2015 |
Through continual improvements in data collection, we are reporting on 100% of our locations for the first time. This provides a strong baseline for updating our targets, two of which expired in the year. We have reviewed good practice, engaged in-house experts who produce our environmental journals, and consulted with stakeholders and peers through meetings and sectoral networks. We will report against absolute targets annually; we will also include normalised results alongside them. Learn more about our environmental reporting guidelines.
To achieve our 2015 targets we have established working groups to focus on specific areas, hired dedicated engineering, design and construction specialists to help identify reduction possibilities throughout our portfolio, and are introducing environmental standards to engage all employees.
Standard levels are those needed to achieve our targets, and are based on our current environmental performance, and internal and external good practice. Locations that achieve five environmental standards in any year will gain green status and be recognised on World Environment Day, beginning in 2009. Staff at locations with excellent performance will serve as mentors to those at lower performing locations. By setting standards based on usage levels per person, we aim to engage employees in attaining the standards and to inspire green competition among offices.
We have defined eight standards covering our key environmental impact areas. As data centres are an integral part of our annual energy consumption, we have also set a standard of 1.8 Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) for all data centres.
Reed Elsevier Environmental Standards*
Annual achievement of five required for green status |
| Area |
Standard |
Type |
| Environmental reporting |
Accurate reporting through the RE Group Environmental Survey |
Management |
| Environmental certification** |
BS 8555 Phase 1 |
Management |
| Transport*** |
Develop and implement a Local Travel Plan |
Management |
| Energy consumption |
5,400 kWh per person or EPA Energy Rating of 69**** |
Performance |
| Carbon emissions |
2 tonnes /CO2 per person or EPA Energy Rating of 69 |
Performance |
| Water |
11 m3 per person |
Performance |
| Waste management |
60% recycling rates |
Performance |
| Office paper |
3,000 pages per person |
Performance |
- *
- The standards are applicable by location and will be reviewed annually
- **
- BS 8555 is a phased approach towards ISO 14001 environmental certification
- ***
- A local travel plan identifies areas for improvement in business travel and commuting
- ****
- EPA’s energy performance rating system rates the performance of buildings on a scale of 1 to 100; a rating of 69 indicates a building is more efficient than 69% of buildings in its peer group, the minimum level needed to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System