Careers Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG) recognises that its wide range of activities and services have both a positive and negative impact on the environment and wish to manage and minimise these wherever possible.
Environmental report
Our environmental strategy is underpinned by Welsh Government legislation and policies. To help us achieve this aim we have implemented the independently audited Green Dragon Environmental Standard. Our overarching principles are detailed within our environmental policy and are implemented and monitored through the use of an environment management system.
How we manage the process
CCDG’s aim is to seek continued improvement in the process by which we manage our environmental impact. We have established two committees which has oversight of the monitoring and reporting requirements within our governance structure. The Green Team is responsible for overseeing the auditing and production of the monitoring data and they report directly to the Senior Management Team. The Well Being of Future Generations Committee has responsibility for setting the strategic direction for the environment and also biodiversity.
Environmental performance
In 2022-23 we adopted a hybrid model of working which allowed staff to work from home or from their base office. We are in the process of developing our premises strategy to ensure that our hybrid working practices are fully aligned with our 2030 net zero strategy.
Our net zero strategy is based on setting a foundation for a whole new approach to the way that we interact with our customers to future-proof our services by ensuring we have an invigorated premises portfolio to meet the needs of the future generations of Wales.
Our key objectives will be to provide modern technologically advanced offices, with low carbon emissions that will provide us with the ability to provide modern working environments that allow flexible working practices available to a wide area of the community. In line with the National strategy ‘Prosperity for All’ we will ensure our estates portfolio will address the needs of the community that we operate within. We have set aside a budget for capital investment in three of our owned properties to improve their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating in 2023/24. We have completed an environmental retrofit survey of these offices and we are aiming to complete the works in the next financial year.
Key to achieving our strategy are the environment management systems and monitoring processes which are embedded within the company. In 2022-23 we were successful in reapplying for Level 4 accreditation of the Green Dragon Environmental accreditation system. The environment data in the table below has been collected from the 30 offices that are fully under our control and where we receive invoices directly from the energy supplier. In addition to the reporting of environment data included in this report we also report annually on additional environment information to the Welsh Government, including an estimated kgCO2e emissions for homeworking (131,927), travel to work (63,831) and supply chain emissions (1,345,737).
| 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water (Litres) | 1,742,180 | 1,021,000 | 1,936,000 |
| Business Miles | 57,069 | 209,586 | 275,919 |
| Electricity kWh | 281,920 | 306,267 | 356,144 |
| Gas kWh | 1,005,477 | 1,192,737 | 1,270,523 |
| Greenhouse gases CO2 tonnes | 343 | 348 | 383 |
| 2020-2021 | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 21,438 | 20,892 | 26,851 |
| Electricity | 64,319 | 104,723 | 113,626 |
| Water | 9,493 | 5,621 | 16,891 |
To calculate the CO2 tonnes of emission for gas and electricity we use the kWh factor kgCO2e, this factor varies year on year. In 2022 there was an increase in the UK kWh kgCO2e factor compared to the previous year. The above figures represent the usage in energy across our business. As detailed in last year’s statutory accounts we were expecting an increase in our emissions this financial year and the end result mirrored these expectations. Compared to the previous year our offices opened for additional days and this has resulted in an increase in business miles, electricity usage and gas usage.
In 2023/24 we are planning a decrease of 15% in our gas, electricity and water consumption. We have set aside revenue and capital expenditure to help reduce our emissions associated with buildings, transport, and procured goods and services. We are in the process of reviewing our owned and leased estate to ensure that our estates portfolio is fit for purpose to meet the needs of staff and our customer base.
Our principal objective is to reduce our co2 footprint by creating environmentally efficient premises as identified by their epc rating. We have identified offices that no longer fit in with our strategy and we are anticipating there will be changes to our current estate portfolio in the next financial year. Our focus is on smaller offices and we are looking at opportunities to co-locate with partner organisations.
Read our environmental policy.