Environment

Energy is a key driver of carbon emissions across the Group and we are committed to reducing our energy consumption across our operations. 

We recognise the importance of investing in energy efficient offices and renewable energy. In FY23, the Group took several measures to reduce energy use and emissions. These included (not an exhaustive list):

• Currently we have 100% renewable energy at eight of our offices (Alnwick, UK; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Brno, Czechia; Chalfont St Peter, UK; Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Stuttgart, Germany). Electricity that comes from clean energy sources is 13.8%. We reduced 12% of our electricity related emissions by purchasing clean energy
• Ensuring energy usage is being reported promptly and accurately
• Setting timers relative to weather conditions and office opening hours – increased awareness through engagement with colleagues and cleaning companies to ensure energy was being used only when necessary
• Implementing various energy efficiency actions such as: a 'closed-door' policy to avoid unnecessary energy consumption for heating/cooling; and a 'switch off at night' policy

With many of our initiatives, we recognise that what is good for the environment is also good for business. Energy savings, for example, reduce our emissions output while cutting costs.

Being a service-based company, our waste generation is naturally low and non-hazardous. However, we continue to engage colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders to take ownership and create more efficient operations and practices.

In FY23, the Group took several measures to reduce waste. These included:

• Whilst rolling out of the environmental compliance programme, we ensure the RWS Group Waste Policy is implemented appropriately to optimise recycling
• The introduction of the new Group-wide Waste Policy improved waste collection methodology, e.g. separating aluminum and biowaste in Brno (Czechia), enabled the office to collect approx. 50kg of aluminum which they could sell-back and separate biowaste which is now repurposed and used for heating. In Cluj-Napoca (Romania), for example, plastic caps are being ‘resold’ and the funds donated to charity, and coffee grounds are collected for colleagues to use as fertilizer
• Working with landlords regarding waste measurement and management
• Working with suppliers to get more accurate reports detailing waste and recycling
• Sending our electronic equipment back to the supplier to recycle as part of a global buy-back scheme
• Storing and reusing bubble wrap and cardboard boxes
• Championing recycling during our 'Recycling Week'
• Hosted a World Cleanup Day to further educate, inform and engage colleagues around waste

Where our offices are in managed buildings, we are working with landlords to derive better data on waste and then implement programmes to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Most of our offices use water from municipal supply and are in developed countries with a high capability for water adaptation and mitigation.

Moving forward we continue to reach out to the landlords of our leased offices and request detailed information. We are also introducing measures to reduce water usage including low flow plumbing fixtures, identifying and fixing leaks, and communicating with employees about responsible water use measures.

In FY23 we hosted an awareness day for World Ocean Day to educate, inform and engage colleagues as well as a World Rivers Day competition to raise awareness of the importance of our rivers around the world and encourage increased stewardship. More than 180 entries were received and colleagues globally participated in judging the winners.

RWS seeks to purchase the most energy efficient IT hardware and work with global suppliers who are committed to reducing their global footprint.

We purchase our end use computers from a supply base which utilise carbon fibre and tree-based bio plastics. Our supply base has been an Energy Star partner for over a decade, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to energy efficiency in its products. Energy star certified laptops use 25-40% less energy than conventional monitors by using the most efficient components and better managing energy use when idle. We also operate a buy-back scheme with our supply base to further enhance reuse and certified Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling as part of our disposal policy.

We encourage our colleagues globally to switch off laptops and monitors when not in use and have configurations in place for inactivity to reduce energy consumption. Our strategy incorporates consolidation to reduce overall footprint of hardware and software across our IT estate. 

As conditions return to the new ‘normal’ post the Covid-19 pandemic, business travel and commuting have increased. The Group continues to utilise software to hold virtual meetings and these are promoted as a way to curtail unnecessary business travel.