The Environment Agency has announced that it has cut its CO2 emissions by almost a fifth since 2006/07. And it urged other large organisations to improve their environmental reporting and performance.

The organisation measures its environmental performance in five key areas, with ambitious 2015 targets set for each.  New figures, in the Environment Agency’s first internal environment management update, show that the 2006-2011 performance on each is:

• Office waste – reduced by 18 per cent, 66 per cent less to landfill;
• Mileage – reduced by 33 per cent, 19 million fewer miles per year;
• Carbon dioxide – a 17 per cent reduction in emissions;
• Buildings’ energy – a 15 per cent reduction in use;
• Mains water – an 18 per cent reduction.

Organisation estimates reveal that the programme has already reduced its costs by more than £6 million a year. Water saving technology has been installed in many of the agency’s buildings,resulting in 12,000 m3 less water being used than five years ago.

Companies urged to go further on environmental reporting

The majority of Britain’s biggest publicly-listed businesses are now disclosing some information about their environmental performance on an annual basis. But a recent Environment Agency study of more than 500 FTSE All-share companies showed that not enough companies are providing environmental statistics in line with Government guidance and that the quality of information is still very varied and in some cases basic.

The agency urged companies to go further on environmental reporting following publication of the report.

Environment Agency Chief Executive, Dr Paul Leinster, said:

“Big organisations often have a big environmental footprint. Transport, energy and waste all contribute and need to be managed, measured and reduced.  Those that do so effectively will reduce costs and improve their reputation.

“In the future, we’ll see higher energy prices, more carbon reporting and greater competition for resources. Good environmental management helps address each and also helps to reduce our running costs. Our own experience shows that focusing on a few important measures, embedding them into every team and reporting to the Board each year are key to success.”