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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