- About
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- ClimateWise
- Reduce the environmental impact of our business
Reduce the environmental impact of our business
Corporate Real Estate Services (CRES EO) has primary responsibility for identifying, monitoring, reducing and reporting on environmental impacts from physical assets and the internal activities of QBE European Operations.
QBE commissioned an external environmental consultant in Jan 2008 to undertake an Initial Environmental Review (IER) of the company’s principal London offices in order to identify key environmental aspects and impacts associated with our activities.
The findings of this IER were used to inform and support the development and implementation of standardised reporting procedures and infrastructure for collecting and collating Environmental Key Performance Indicator (EKPI) data for the company’s European offices on an on-going basis. This provides the data for identification of opportunities, informed decision making and public reporting.
5.1 Processes for sustainable procurement
QBE European Operations has identified the ‘most significant’ products and services purchased as including: business travel, freight, paper and waste management. Environmental impacts associated with these products and services have been identified and guidelines for consideration of sustainability issues during procurement are being developed and will be implemented during 2010. Implementation of this guidance will, in part, be dependent upon the time table for contract renewal with existing suppliers, but will at a minimum including consideration of:
- Specification of Paper: recycled content / FSC sourced wood pulp, method of bleaching etc.;
- Freight shipment: provision of accurate information relating to weights of freight carried, origin/destination and associated GHG emissions, offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions;
- Waste Management Services: compliance with the principles of the waste management hierarchy and proximity principle; and
- Travel: Where appropriate consideration will be given to the use of the least carbon-intensive mode practical i.e. train travel for national travel.
Examples of purchasing decisions that have involved the informal consideration of sustainability issues include:
- Purchase of electricity derived from a renewable source at our European Head Office (London); and,
- Use of FCS certified office paper at all UK offices
5.2a Measurement of environmental impact
QBE EO has compiled EKPI data on a quarterly basis since Q1 2008.
The scope of reporting covers direct environmental impacts associated with 79 QBE sites / offices located in seventeen countries with c.2, 600 employees. Reporting excludes impacts associated with the activities of home workers.
Environmental Key Performance Indicators (EKPIs) reported include:
- Energy consumption (kWh);
- Water consumption (m³/year); and,
- GHG emissions (kg CO2e).
The quarterly reports collate, review and summarise available data and are produced with the support of an external environmental consultant. Reports are based on information provided by the reporting offices and identify data gaps, limitations and actions required as part of an on-going programme to monitor and reduce environmental impacts and achieve wider project objectives.
Data is collated annually and submitted to the company’s Australian head office for integration with EKPI data from other regions to provide data on the company’s global environmental impact which is publicly reported in the company’s Group Annual Report and Accounts.
QBE is currently considering expanding the range of environmental key performance indicators used to include data collection against the following EKPIs during 2009/10:
- Paper consumption (kg and kg/FTE/year); and,
- Waste Management (total waste arisings kg and kg/FTE/year, % recycling rate).
5.2b Evaluation of steps to reduce environmental impact
During 2008, CRES European Operations established a system for monitoring and reporting EKPIs. Over the last year, this system has been improved with steps taken to close gaps in the reporting process and improve data quality. The information obtained is now being used to support decision making and identify opportunities to improve environmental performance for example through internal and external benchmarking.
Key achievements during 2008/9 include:
- Green alternatives for Stationary CRES EO are working with our supplier to offer more environmentally friendly alternatives against our standard stationary supplies. This includes changing our photocopying paper to a product that comes from a sustainable source and is approved by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC);
- Energy Management Lighting Systems, time based / movement detectors installed in London and Chelmsford offices;
- Use of sustainable materials where possible during Chelmsford data room expansion;
- Renewable Energy contract entered into for electricity supply for our European Head office;
- Office Paper Recycling, one supplier servicing all QBE UK premises to improve access to and quality of data;
- Improved employee communications through the development of an Environmental Intranet with dedicated email;
- Development and implementation of an EKPI monitoring and reporting system, including Methodology Guidance and Reporting Spreadsheet distributed to all European offices to standardise environmental reporting; and,
- Corporation of London, Clean City Awards, QBE achieved a ‘Merit’ for the second consecutive year.
During 2009 QBE CRES EO will be looking at a number of initiatives to reduce QBE’s environmental impact and will continue to work closely with QBE New Media team and Corporate Communications to inform and report on the progress of a broad range of environmental initiatives.
Key initiatives for 2009 include:
- Company Car Fleet Management, CRES EO will review how environmental data from car fleet suppliers is recorded and collated, so that we can produce more accurate reports;
- Waste Strategy, CRES EO is working with the City of London on its municipal waste strategy. This is giving us access to new ways of reducing our waste in the London offices as well as to potential partners to help us achieve this;
- Improved Waste Management, we are currently working to improve the system of monitoring and managing general waste. This will include provision of infrastructure to support the recovery / reuse or recycling of large items of office waste, recycling of printer and photocopier toners and recycling plastic cups. Where possible revenue raised through recycling will be donated to charities;
- Improved employee engagement, throughout 2009 we will be running a “Did you know campaign” which will highlight key fact and figures to employees and raise awareness of ways to help reduce our Carbon footprint; and
- EO Environmental Web pages, further enhancements will be made to our intranet web pages including a dedicated area that takes a closer look at what our suppliers are doing in ClimateWise and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Whist QBE has taken a number of steps to reduce the environmental impact of its activities over recent years 2008 was the first year that the company has collected and collated EKPI data for all our European Operations, The data set obtained provides baseline data which will be used to inform future decision making. The baseline data will be reviewed to better understand our impacts and support internal and external benchmarking of performance and identification of further opportunities to improve performance. This process will ultimately allow the identification of SMART targets to reduce environmental impacts.
5.3 Evidence of disclosure of direct GHG emissions
QBE European Operations has committed to publicly disclosing direct emissions of greenhouse gases in accordance with a globally recognised standard.
QBE EO collects and collates data provided by the company’s European offices on a quarterly basis, producing internal reports summarising EKPI performance, identifying data gaps, limitations and actions required as part of an on-going programme to reduce adverse environmental impacts and wider objectives including:
- Voluntary external reporting of direct greenhouse gas emissions associated with QBE’s European offices in accordance with the WBCSD/WRI Greenhouse Gas Protocol; and,
- Collection and collation of robust data to support decision making and identification of opportunities to improve environmental management through an on-going ‘rolling programme’.
The quarterly reports are submitted to the company’s Australian Head Office for integration with EKPI data from other regions. EKPI data for the company’s global activities is publically reported in the company’s Group Annual Report and Accounts
Three carbon-based metrics: business air travel, car fleet use and electricity usage were reported in the Group Annual Report and Accounts, with the Group’s global carbon emissions for 2008 estimated at 47,420 tonnes.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the company’s direct business activities (i.e. Operation of offices and business travel) are reported in accordance with the requirements of the World Business Council for
Sustainable Development / World Resources Institute Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
- QBE’s UK European offices are generally leased with shared tenancy. Building services such as boilers, back-up generators and centralised cooling systems are generally managed and controlled by the landlord or landlord’s agent under a service contract. Associated emissions are therefore not QBE European Operations Scope 1 emissions; and,
- Indirect emissions from QBE’s business travel are considered to be ‘material’ and are therefore included within the scope of reporting.
Total direct GHG emissions from QBE European Operations during 2008 were 8,200 tonnes CO2e. The breakdown of emissions by source is summarised in this graph and table.
