AmazonScience/document-haystack

1Our five-year climate strategy involves more 2than just measuring emissions. We have 3continued to meet our ambitious reduction 4targets and having achieved and maintained 5a 75% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions 6two years early, we are able to pursue further, 7even more ambitious commitments (see 8page 50 for details). We are also committed 9to enhancing our engagement with our value 10chain and using our leverage where possible to 11persuade others to set their own net zero targets, 12ideally aligned to a science-based target (SBT).13We recognise that the issues of climate 14change and sustainability are complex. 15We therefore provide regular training to 16colleagues across the Group to help them 17to better understand how they can make a 18difference and help us on our net zero journey. 19Our newly-formed Sustainability network 20ran several events in 2023, including a 21Sustainability Awareness training event 22open to all employees. We also delivered 23an in-depth training session on climate 24emissions and environmental best practice 25for our executive team and Board.26Our environmental performance 27in 202328Our total Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) 29emissions has reduced by 15% from 2022 30and has reduced 77% from the 2019 baseline.31For the first time, we are able to report our full 32Scope 3 GHG emissions and can compare 33them with our completed baseline of GHG 34emissions for 2022. Our Scope 3 emissions 35have reduced by 17% when compared to 2022. 36The reductions are predominantly attributed 37to Purchased Goods and Services, Upstream 38Transport and Distribution and Use of 39Sold Products.40Due to improvements in data quality we have 41re-stated some 2022 emissions. For full details 42of our environmental performance, see the 43tables on pages 52 and 53.44Energy and emissions45Our gas consumption (kWh) in 2023 reduced 46by 0.73% and electricity by 18.5% compared 47with 2022.48Environmental management49Each year, our print and publishing sites are 50both internally and externally audited against 51the international environmental standard 52ISO 14001:2015, which requires continuous 53improvement on environmental impacts. 54We work hard to meet and maintain, or ideally 55better, our standards by continually reviewing 56our risks and opportunities. It’s rare that 57non-conformances are raised and all 58hubs maintained the standard in 2023.59The year also saw the three print sites 60integrate their standard under one ISO 61certification. The newly-integrated management 62system enhances the consistency of print ISO 63management, covering Environment, Health 64and Safety and Quality. In 2024, the scope for 65the Publishing ISO 14001:2015 standard will be 66reviewed to ensure it is still relevant and 67reflective after the wider operational 68changes carried out in 2022 and 2023.69Supply chain70As a news publisher, paper is essential to our 71business, which is why we are committed to 72responsible procurement. We set ourselves 73ambitious targets to support our commitment 74to using graphic paper from fibre that has 75been recycled or that has been independently 76certified as sustainable. In 2023, we sourced 7797.28% of graphic paper from recycled 78materials or wood from certified sustainable 79sources, against our target of 95%. We 80collaborate with contractors for the printing 81of our magazine supplements and the 82distribution of our printed products so when 83entering into a contract we carefully consider 84our contractors’ dedication to environmental 85sustainability. We expect them to assess and 86disclose the energy consumption and carbon 87emissions linked to the work conducted during 88the reporting year. Our five-year climate 89strategy has outlined our desire to engage 90more deeply with our biggest suppliers and 91work with them to continually enhance the 92environmental credentials of our products.93Waste94The unnecessary creation and poor 95management of waste can profoundly 96impact the wellbeing of our planet and natural 97environments. We are therefore committed to 98utilising the waste hierarchy – a ranking system 99of waste management options according to 100which is the best for the environment – in our 101management of waste. We aim to reduce the 102types and volumes of waste we generate while 103reusing and recycling as much of it as possible. 104This year, we also aim to enhance the granularity 105of our waste reporting, continuing to report the 106total volumes of hazardous waste from our 107print sites, where most of the waste is produced, 108and total weights of paper waste we recycle 109from our print sites, which is our main non-110hazardous waste stream.111The comprehensive renovation of our hubs for 112team members embracing the advantages of 113hybrid work is now complete and we ensured 114that we made as much use of sustainable and 115recycled materials in this process as possible.116We are committed to ensuring 100% of our 117waste electrical and electronic equipment 118(WEEE) avoids landfill and is either recycled 119or reused, so we have chosen a contractor, 120Restore, that has a ‘zero to landfill’ policy. 121Restore also uses electric vehicles, powers its 122recycling processes via solar panels, and is a 123signatory of the Climate Group’s EV100 project, 124which brings together companies ‘committed 125to accelerating the shift to electric transport 126from around the world’. We have also been 127considering the potential to donate electronic 128items before they become WEEE and engaging 129with charitable organisations who could 130benefit from this.131Responsible business continued132Protecting our environment133Energy Efficiency Actions134• Invested in solar panels at all owned 135print sites in order to increase our 136renewable electricity usage.137• Replaced refrigerant gas cooling 138equipment at our Watford print site 139with a more efficient model to reduce 140refrigerant usage.14149142Reach plc Annual Report 2023Strategic Report Governance Financial Statements Other Information