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Environmental Review
Highlights 2006
This year has been very successful for us as we continue to progress in furthering environmental management within the company. Here are some highlights:
- For a third year, we were ranked top of our sector in the Business in the Community Environment Index 2006. Environmental Management at Pearson was ranked as "platinum", the highest performance tier within the index.
- We have achieved our target to reduce energy use by 10% compared to our 2003 baseline two years ahead of target. Our three-year total reduction achieved stands at 11.03%.
- We have also exceeded our stretch target to reduce water use by 10%, again two years ahead of target. Our three-year reduction stands at 12.28%
- Penguin in the UK has secured Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification which will allow its books to carry the FSC label.
- As well as certification systems such as FSC, we have our own procedure to track wood back through the production process to the original forest allowing us to verify the sustainability of the papers we use.
- Working with WTA, our main shipping agent, we measured the carbon footprint relating to the shipping of our printed books around the world. This is the first time that this has been done.
- Our register of the environmental characteristics of our major print suppliers has been updated.
- Our reuse/recycle rate for unsold books and newspapers was 99%. This was in excess of our target of 95%.
- We have reported on our progress to the UN as part of our commitment to the Global Compact.
Towards a carbon neutral future
Good environmental management is an issue that is growing in importance. Pearson has reviewed its approach against the current backdrop of wider public interest in all matters environmental including concern over changes in our climate.
In February 2007, a paper on corporate responsibility was tabled for discussion by the Pearson Board of Directors. The paper covered a range of issues including Climate Change as well as how Pearson currently manages its environmental responsibilities. In April 2007, Pearson announced its commitment to continue the process of becoming a carbon neutral company with a view to completing that globally by the end of 2009.
Pearson views the decision to work towards becoming carbon neutral as a means to first and foremost focus the business on identifying opportunities for reducing its carbon footprint. Over the next few months we will be planning a series of activities to take place over the next three years that will
- Reduce our own company impact
- engage our employees
- influence our suppliers to adopt their own standards where these are not in place
Our most significant country of operation is the United States, so this will be an early focus for us. We have appointed Rich Glicini, a senior executive to lead our environmental work in the US. Until recently, Rich Glicini was Senior Vice President responsible for Human Resources at Pearson Education. In his new role, he will bring a particular focus on employee engagement in setting and achieving the new targets we set.
Plans for 2007
- Start to map our path towards carbon neutrality in our company operations by the end of 2009.
- Introduce new reduction targets for energy and water to be achieved by the end of 2009 based on 2007 as a new baseline.
- Review our approach and use of renewable energy
- Set a new CO2 reduction target relating to business car travel
- Continue to explore aspects of our wider product related carbon footprint.
- Maintain inclusion in the key indices of social responsibility.
- Continue to raise employee awareness of the steps we are taking on corporate responsibility and how they can help.
- Continue to minimize the environmental impact of packaging and distribution in our book companies.
- Continue our drive for independently verified certification to ensure the suitability of paper we purchase for our books, newspapers and magazines.
Our Targets for 2007
- Using 2003 as the base year, we aim to reduce energy use across the company by 13% by the end of 2007.
- Using 2003 as the base year, we aim to achieve a per employee reduction in air travel by the end of 2007.
- Using 2003 as the base year, we aim to achieve a 15% per square metre (gross internal area) reduction in water usage by the end of 2007.
- Maintain our reuse/recycle rate for all unsold books and newsprint in excess of 95%.
We will report on our progress against these targets in the relevant section of our environmental review next year.
The Executive responsible for our global activities on environmental matters is Alan Miller, Director of Group Affairs. If you have any comments please email Alan Miller on alan.miller@pearson.com
