WHERE HAVE WE GOT TO IN 2023?
Ayearofpreparingtheground,improvingourreportingand somesignificantsteps
7% REDUCTION
in like-for-like emissions vs 2022
72.5 EMISSIONS
like-for-like or 96.7 tonnes gross
42 %
Emissions dominated by our Transport & Logistics
And by our packaging waste – which we reported for the first time
ELECTRICITY
Our logistics partner Abels has moved over to entirely renewable electricity supplies
WASTE
We have started reporting our waste and recycling emissions for the first time, allowing us to determine next steps
PRODUCTS
We are calculating the emissions of key products within the Conscious Collection
OFFICES
Our office move will allow more control to contract renewable energy and our waste and recycling arrangements
Energy intensity per employee of 1.31 tonnes CO2e
SUMMARY OF CARBON AUDIT 2023
Sources of CO2e emissions
Walking to work figures have dropped significantly compared to 2022
31tonnes CO2e
96.7 tonnes CO@e Gross emissions (including Waste & Recycling)
Both our Transport & Logistics and Waste activities need to be reviewed to deliver substantial reductions in emissions
Sources of emissions dominated by Transport & Logistics and Waste
Significant increase in Business Travel emissions due to addition of car and tube travel being reported this year, and small increase in Long Haul Economy air travel (and change in UK Government conversion ratios)
12.9t reduction in Transport & Logistics emissions
5.1t increase in Business travel emissions
NEXT STEPS
Action offset purchase to cover 2023’s emissions of 96.7 tonnes CO2e (gross, including Abel’s Waste & Recycling)
Key Priorities for 2025
#1 Move over to renewable electricity tariff at new offices
#2 Review plans to move to electric or biofuel transport fleet
#3 Improve reporting on waste/recycling and water usage at new offices
#4 Initiate detailed review of packaging to reduce Landfill waste
#5 Complete initial reporting on Conscious Collection emissions
We’re proud to be B Corp certified since 2022
And SBTi certified since 2023
COMMENTARY ON RESULTS
The following assumptions and considerations have been taken into account in undertaking this analysis, and comments have been made explaining some of the factors that have affected calculations and the resultant emissions figures:
Energy & Utility emissions
Accouter was not able to establish precise Energy & Utility statements from its freeholder at its Mortimer Street address. For the purposes of the 2023 carbon audit, the same consumption for electricity and gas as 2022 has been assumed. However, the UK Government DEFRA carbon conversion factors have been marginally changed for 2023, accounting for the difference in implied emissions.
Water consumption has been included this year, although this only adds modestly to emissions.
As in 2022, no information has been provided for air conditioning emissions, or cloud data and offsite server energy consumption, and these should be sought for future years.
Business Travel
No car or EV mileage was reported in 2022 for Business Travel, whereas data was provided in this category for 2023, so comparison cannot be made between years. It is not clear whether this was missed in collecting the 2022 data.
Train, bus, tube and air travel data for 2022 has been restated to account for translating into kilometres from miles.
Long Haul Economy miles have increased in 2023, and this modest increase has been impacted further by the UK Government DEFRA conversion factors being increased for this category of air travel in 2023.
Transport & Logistics
Mileage reported for Transport & Logistics in 2023 was substantially lower than in the previous year, falling from 106,528 to 82,791 miles for van transport, although 1,684 miles were recorded as being from HGVs. This led to an apparent 29.5% fall in emissions. It is understood this largely related to one of the drivers not using a van for commuting to jobs during the year, as had been the case the previous year. If this is the case, it demonstrates the opportunities available to make significant emissions reductions through simple actions.
Commuting
There were some unexpected changes in commuter transport metrics in 2023, with train and underground miles falling by some way, and walking showing a huge reduction. Bus usage was reported for 2023 but not for 2022. Overall, this however caused only a very small change in emissions.
COMMENTARY ON RESULTS (Cont’d)
Working from Home
WFH appears to have increased during 2023 with 4,596 Full Day Equivalents being reported for the year versus 4,269 in 2022. This resulted in a 5.5% increase in related emissions. And this category remained a large contributor.
Waste & Recycling
Waste and Recycling data has been reported more comprehensively by Abel’s this year, and the figures have been included in the gross emissions total, but not in the like-for-like total. Due to the level of General Waste (presumably packaging) going to Landfill, and not being recycled, there is a significant contribution to the company’s overall carbon emissions of 24.23 tonnes.
It is understood that no data is yet being reported for office waste and recycling from Mortimer House. The office move will allow better recording and management of waste and recycling.
Gross vs Net Emissions
Two total emissions figures are being reported this year, one Net (like-for-like against the sources reported last year) and the second, Gross, including the contribution of Waste & Recycling which were not included in the final total last year.
The Net figure for 2023 of 72.5 tonnes represents a 7% reduction on 2022, mainly achieved through the reduction of van mileage under Transport & Logistics. In other categories, emissions are stable or have increased.
Gross emissions were 96.7 tonnes, and due to the inclusion of Waste & Recycling data, were substantially greater than the Net total reported for 2022.
Scope 3 – Value Chain emissions
The audit results do not include Accouter’s value chain related emissions, other than Abels’ Transport & Logistics and Waste/Recycling contributions. A pilot study investigating emissions from selected products in the Conscious Collection will provide some useful guidance to consolidating reporting across all product lines in due course.
Offset Programme
It is being recommended that as in 2022 Accouter offsets its emissions via recognised and audited offset projects both in the UK and possibly internationally. Offset schemes have come under increasing scrutiny over the last 12-24 months to ensure that they are bona fide and do actually incorporate existing or pending carbon units. A selection of options will be provided shortly by Strategy B.
