ACT Environmental Report 2022/2023

Annual Environmental Report 2022/2023

ACT

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Contents Introduction Foreword

03

About ACT

04

Management Structure

05

Environmental Performance & Sustainability Energy

07

Transport

09

Waste

10

Water

12

Carbon Scoping

13

Closing Statements

ACT

Strategy & Objectives

14

Community Relations

15

Conclusion

16

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Foreword This report aims to explain the definitions, scope, and calculation methodology for preparing and verifying ACT’s key environmental performance metrics. Greenhouse gases emitted have been calculated as carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

The CO2e figures include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

All data within this report has been gathered within the reporting period of August 2022 to July 2023.

Our commitment to continually improve environmental management and sustainability aligns directly with our company’s strategic vision. It is our responsibility to strive for operational excellence in sustainability and, given our role as training provider, to educate and engage young people and adults about our environmental impact. By embracing a culture of continuous improvement, we aim to reduce our environmental footprint, setting a positive example for the next generation and fostering a sustainable future for all. This annual environmental report sets the benchmark which we will measure further improvements.

Louise Williams ACT Operational Director

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

1.0 INTRODUCTION

About ACT

ACT help individuals who are looking to improve themselves, their lives, and their careers.

Associated Community Training Ltd (ACT) is an education provider with schools and training centres across South Wales. ACT provide a wide range of training programmes and qualifications to help learners reach their full potential. From ACT Schools, Jobs Growth Wales+, Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships across 30 different sectors, to employability training and short commercial courses there is something for everyone.

ACT recognises that throughout its operations and activities there are positive and negative costs to the environment and community both locally, nationally, and internationally.

ACT acknowledges that it has a responsibility to monitor and reduce its environmental impact. ACT have implemented an environmental management system (EMS) which has been certificated with ISO 14001 to help monitor their environmental impact, workplace culture and community impact.

This report aims to showcase a baseline of environmental data and targets for improvements.

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

2.0 MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

Facilities Team

A weekly bulletin is sent to all staff. This is used to communicate broad updates for health and safety, and environmental.

The Facilities Team collectively handle the day-to-day matters of environmental management, health and safety, and building maintenance, whilst reporting to the Operations Director. Ultimately, the Managing Director has responsibility for all matters handled by the Facilities Team.

Health and safety reports are submitted to the board of directors on a quarterly basis to ensure risks are addressed appropriately.

ACT acknowledges its stakeholders are affected by their environmental performance. A matrix of internal and external stakeholders is kept within the Environmental Management Manual and makes up part of the EMS. This is available for internal parties on the Facilities Team SharePoint and can be made available to external parties upon request.

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 1 - 3 . 2 T H E FAC T S & CARBON FOOTPRINT

Key Data Information

3.1 The Facts

3.2 Carbon Footprint

Data has been gathered for energy, water, waste and transport between August 2022 and July 2023 giving a baseline. Having implemented an EMS during this time period ACT aim to continually improve on baseline environmental performance.

The Facilities Team will continue to conduct internal audits and monitor data to measure improvement success.

ACT’s carbon footprint has been calculated using best available data from meters, invoicing, mileage claims, and third-party provided data. CO2e figures have been attained using Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2022 provided by the U.K. government (UK GOV CO2e value x ACT quantity used). Emissions have been calculated as CO2e only and not broken down into further greenhouse gases.

Energy supplied to all ACT sites comes in the form of 100% renewable electricity and biogas (occurring from anaerobic digestion); both are measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). Renewable electricity is equivalent to 0kg CO2e per kWh. Biogas purchased is equivalent to 0.00521kg CO2e per kWh.

As of August 2023, 40 staff have completed ACT’s Sustainability and the Green Environment Level 2 qualification. An additional 27 are currently booked on to complete this course. Staff from any role are encouraged to undertake the 2-day course to gain a greater understanding of environmental issues and what a sustainable future may look like.

19 staff have completed emergency pollution response training. Training began with staff whose roles are at highest risk of creating a polluting spill.

The Facilities Team are scheduled to expand the training to all staff members.

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 3 T H E D ATA

Energy

Electricity is provided

Data for energy usage across all sites has been collated from invoicing whereby the meter submits a reading to the energy providers. The energy providers then tell ACT how much energy they have used over the given period. Both gas and electricity units are measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).

from renewable sources and subsequently saves a large portion of carbon.

Biogas is used within the gas supply. Biogas is a mixed methane and carbon dioxide blend which is captured via anaerobic digestion whereby organic waste is composted in a controlled environment.

The methane is then captured for energy products and alternative fuels. Replacing carbon intensive fossil fuels like natural gas with biogas has meant that ACT are using a fuel which is up to 819 times more efficient than natural gas. This greatly reduces the amount of carbon produced.

TOTAL AC T E NE RGY USAGE

520,374 kWh Electricity Used

0%

788,900

4

kWh Gas Used

ACT

GAS 60%

ELECTRIC I

TY

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Highest Usage ocean park house

Ocean Park House is the biggest user of energy.

This is to be expected given the building is the largest of all of ACT’s assets containing both headquarters for staff and a school for learners.

Biogas is predominantly used to heat ACT sites with the exception of Barry and Pontypool centres which do not have a gas supply and subsequently produce low environmental impact via their energy usage.

Data below shows categoric usage over a 12-month period from August 2022 to July 2023.

Electricity Used (kWh) Gas Used (kWh)

ACT

82,274

PONTYPOOL

C A ER P H ILLY B LU E B E LL

0

7,964

14,190

19,375 0

8

BAR RY

A B ER DAR E

CAERP HILLY P ONT YGWI NDY

HADF IELD ROAD

O C E AN PAR K H OU S E

3,439

35,179

41,035

99,952

107,732

194,421

369,294

334,410

Energy Usage Overview 2022-2023

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 3 T H E D ATA

Transport Staff submit mileage claims via an expenses system.

Staff vehicles are kept relevant and up-to-date by People and Development. The system shows the vehicle’s fuel type as either diesel, petrol, or hybrid/ electric. The data set is unable to split hybrid and electric. Therefore, data for miles driven in electric vehicles has been attributed to the CO2e conversion factor for hybrid vehicles.

2022-2023 marked the first educational year with no Covid-19 restrictions since 2020. This meant data is reflective of normal operations within ACT and business miles. As business grows it is anticipated that business miles travelled will increase as staff conduct more workplace assessments and employer visits. Alternative, lower carbon travel for staff is essential to lower ACT’s carbon emitted from business miles travelled.

318,541

90,644

MILES TRAVELLED

CO2 EMMIT TED (kg)

ACT Grey Fleet CO2 Emmissions 2022-2023

Miles Travelled Miles Travelled CO2 Emmissions CO2 Emmissions

Petrol Petrol Diesel Diesel Hybrid/Electric Hybrid/Electric

20000

12500

15000

12500

10000

7500

5000

2500

0 AUG

ACT

SEPT

O CT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

9

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 3 T H E D ATA

Waste

Responsible Waste

General

Municipal waste (general waste, mixed dry recycling, cans and plastics, and mixed paper and cardboard) is weighed upon collection by the municipal waste contractor, Veolia. Data is collated to show general waste vs recycling for each site.

54%

Veolia operate with 0% waste sent to landfill.

General waste generated at ACT is sent for energy recovery.

Recycling

46%

The recycling rate increased with the introduction of Ecorecycling banks of bins in August 2022. This allowed staff and learners to segregate their waste at the point of disposal. The Ecorecycling banks allow users to place their waste in either general waste, cardboard and paper, cans, or plastics bins. Whilst some data from August 2021 to July 2022 is available the data set is patchy and not comprehensive and so does not warrant comparison. Data from August 2022 to July 2023 will be ACT’s baseline for continual improvement.

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

Waste streams increased over the reporting period with WEEE (waste electronics and electrical equipment) of both data holding and non-data holding appliances now being treated by our secure, compliant contractor Blackmore Ricotech.

Unfortunately, Blackmore Ricotech are currently unable to provide data for weights of equipment reused vs recycled vs recovered. Therefore, ACT cannot include waste nor carbon data for WEEE within this report.

Waste wood and bulky municipal waste skips were installed at Ocean Park House. These are supplied by Caerphilly Skips and emptied on an adhoc basis.

Caerphilly Skips aim to recycle as much of their collected material as possible with only asbestos and asbestos contaminated material sent to landfill for disposal. As ACT have not produced any asbestos during the reporting period, they can be confident that almost all of ACT’s waste has avoided landfill disposal.

Ocean Park House has been the largest waste producing site.

This is to be expected given it hosts the largest number of staff and learners. Ocean Park House also boasts a greater recycling rate of 63% recycling vs 37% general waste. All other sites have a recycling rate between 30-40% with the exception of Hadfield Road which is the lowest performing site with a recycling rate of 24%.

Dry mixed recycling (kg) General waste (kg)

8,068

10,370

Dry Mixed Recycling vs General Waste Across All ACT Sites

134 L

59

282

142

O

O

LE

Y

P

V A

P

O

N

T

W B B

304

585

620 E

R R A B

C A B ER LU P E HI B L E L LL Y

439 Y

E R A D R E B A

P

C O A N ER T P Y H G I W LL IN Y D Y

D O FIE A L D D

A

R

H

O C H PA E A O R N U K S E

293

578

2,171

1,093

2,596

6,214

Dry mixed recycling (kg) General waste (kg)

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 3 T H E D ATA

Water Water data has been gathered through invoicing from our water supplier, Welsh Water. Welsh Water read meters and invoice on a quarterly basis. Unfortunately, Welsh Water are reluctant to move to monthly meter readings and invoicing which would help ACT find greater opportunities for improvement. At the time of writing this report not all data is yet available.

Water saving techniques introduced so far include push button timer taps, signage asking staff to report issues to Facilities Team, and sanitary bins to discourage flushing of improper materials.

Welsh Water state that adults use roughly 150L of water per day, so water usage across all

The data gathered marks a baseline for further improvements.

Ocean Park House Water Usage Overview 2022-2023

ACT sites is relatively low considering the footfall.

Water Usage (m3) Water Usage

m3 = 1000L

Water Usage

Sewerage (m3)

Sewerage

400

350

Usage (m3)

300

250

200

150

100

50

0 AU G

ACT

SEPT

OCT

N OV

D EC

JA N

12

FEB

MAR

APR

M AY

JUN

JUL

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3 . 3 T H E D ATA

Carbon Scoping

96% of ACT’s carbon footprint is categorised within scope 1.

The majority of these scope 1 emissions are produced from miles driven in combustion engines.

Carbon expenditure has been divided into scopes 1, 2, and 3. Scope 1 are direct emissions that are controlled by ACT. Namely, these are fuels used for gas central heating, vehicular travel, and air conditioning refrigerants. Scope 2 and 3 are indirect emissions resulting as a consequence of ACT’s activities.

Scope 3’s largest carbon contributor comes from water treatment. This is the water sewerage from flushing toilets, running taps, dishwashers, washing machines, etc.

Further work would be needed to expand scope 3 to include additional carbon activities.

Scope 1

Scope 3

29,628 832

18,789 479

388 325

0

167 86

PET ROL

ACT Training

DI ESEL

530

0

HYBRID/ ELEC TRIC

BIO GAS

WATER S U PPLY

13

WATER TREATMEN T

REFU S E

RECYCL ATES

WO O D

BULKY WASTE (R EFUSE)

Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3.4 THE FUTURE

Strategy & Objectives 3.4 Strategy ACT aim to become a model institution where sustainable practices are ingrained in our culture, education, and daily operations, inspiring our learners to value and protect the environment.

Climate Action and Environment ACT aim to contribute towards the global commitment of limiting global warming to 1.5C. Efforts to reduce ACT’s environmental impact include reducing use of carbon emitting fuels, sending zero waste to landfill, and reducing single use items.

Nature and Biodiversity ACT will consider the net biodiversity gain across all projects to promote the restoration of natural flora and fauna creating a beneficial environment for all.

Environmental Awareness ACT aim to embed sustainability within the curriculum for all learners and staff and work with likeminded third parties to ensure environmental consideration is given to delivery of services.

Objectives Aligning with our Environmental Policy over the August 2023 to July 2024 period ACT aims to: Reduce transport produced carbon for the highest emitting journeys.

Reduce use of carbon emitting heating in buildings by 5% Reduce water consumption by 5%.

Increase recycling rate to 50%.

Review the supply chain and third-party contractors to ensure environmental impact has been considered for items and works procured.

Review the induction process for all learners and staff to ensure a level of environmental awareness for all that aligns with local and global goals.

ACT

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

3.5 - 4.2 THE FUTURE

Community Relations

3.5 CO2

3.6 New Employees

A calculated total of 51.4 tonnes of CO2e were emitted by ACT from August 2022 to July 2023.

New employees are provided a briefing on ACT’s environmental management, their expectations of staff, and their legal obligations as part of their induction. ACT aim to offer emergency response training to all staff to ensure that everyone is responsible for handling and reporting pollution events.

To put this into perspective the average U.K. home produces 8.1 tonnes of CO2e per year.

However, this figure is likely to be higher as F-Gas usage has not been calculated for sites using air conditioning and a complete data set for water usage is not yet available.

4.1 Giving Back

4.2 Charitable Donations

Furniture fit for reuse but surplus to business requirements are donated to charities. If charities are unable to accept the furniture this is then offered to members of the community via Freecycle. 19 items of furniture were donated over this reporting period.

Working with charities Comic Relief, Ty Hafan, Children in Need, and British Heart Foundation, we have raised £282 in donations.

£282

Staff are given 4 paid volunteering days per year. A total of 25.5 days were used over the reporting period by 11 members of staff.

ACT

RAI SE D F OR CH ARI T Y

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023

5.0 THE END

Conclusion

Using data collated between August 2022 and July 2023 ACT aim to continually improve on an annual basis.

Transport is the largest contributor to ACT’s carbon footprint. It makes sense to reduce carbon emissions in this area. There are multiple options to be explored here:

Where possible ACT aim to reduce carbon emitting heating within buildings by switching from gas central heating to electric heating.

ACT’s HQ aim to install additional air conditioning units to lower usage of gas central heating.

For the highest polluting journeys the feasibility of public transport should be explored.

Staff members or the team completing the highest number of miles per year are offered an electric pool vehicle they can book in advance.

Water consumption can be reduced by installing water saving devices within each toilet’s cistern, replacing outdated cisterns which use 7-9L of water per flush with new cisterns of a smaller capacity, ensuring push button tap timers run for no more than 10 seconds, and increasing communications amongst staff to report issues such as leaky taps and cisterns.

An electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme for all staff.

Recommendations for digital meetings between staff and learners to reduce workplace visits.

ACT seek to lower their levels of waste produced by working with Procurement department to reduce volumes of materials being delivered to sites. Currently the recycling rate is 46% and endeavours to be at least 50% for 2023-2024 period by working with staff across all sites to promote the waste hierarchy.

ACT Training

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Annual Sustainability Report 2023