DMGT and the Environment

Environment

http://www.dmgt.co.uk/corporateresponsibility/theenvironment/

Our main focus is managing the impact of our printing centres - five in the UK and two in Hungary. The key environmental impacts are waste generation (particularly waste newsprint), energy use measured as part of our Carbon Footprint, and paper purchasing.

The direct environmental impact from our office-based divisions is relatively low. Our offices around the world practise paper recycling; there are also schemes in place for the recycling of plastic, glass, toner cartridges, mobile phones and IT equipment. All printing centres have environmental management policies. The use of energy, newsprint, ink and plates and waste disposal have cost implications and are, therefore, managed for reasons of good business sense, as well as to reduce their environmental impact.

Newsprint production waste, as a percentage of total newspaper output, has fallen this year. Newsprint production is measured and reported to divisional board meetings on a monthly basis.

Target percentages for waste paper are set for each product printed. This percentage varies according to certain criteria, such as the numbers of copies required and edition changes. Actual waste volumes are compared against budgeted levels, with the results reviewed monthly review at the appropriate board level.

100% of production paper waste is recycled.

DMGT’s Carbon Footprint

We have employed ICF International to carry out a Carbon Footprint Analysis across DMGT. This exercise has been undertaken every year since 2006 using the widely recognised GHG protocol methodology developed by the World Resource Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. All DMGT divisions and countries of operations are covered. The emission sources included in the Carbon Footprint are the following:

• Scope 1 emissions: direct emissions
• Buildings gas and fuel consumptions
• Company owned vehicles
• Refrigerant gas losses
• Scope 2 emissions: indirect emissions resulting from the use of electricity
• Scope 3 emissions: other indirect emissions
• Business travel - air, car, rail
• Outsourced delivery activities

This year, we updated the emissions factors used to calculate DMGT’s emissions based on the latest figures provided by the GHG protocol methodology and the UK Government guidelines. As part of this process, we have revised previous years’ footprints as per the methodology recommendations.

Due to a number of structural changes that took place within DMGT recently, we also revised the baseline (2007) and the historical emissions so as to reflect disposals and acquisitions that have occurred since the baseline has been established.

As a result of both the emission factors update and the consideration of structural changes, DMGT’s historical emissions have changed since last year. The following table summarises the changes:

This year, we calculated that the Group’s Carbon Footprint was 110,700 tonnes of CO2, a decrease of about 10,800 tonnes (9%) compared to the baseline (121,500 tCO2). About 15% of this total corresponds to Scope 1 emissions, 62% Scope 2 emissions, and 23% Scope 3 emissions.

The reduction in emissions comes from the fact some offices and printing sites closed during the year and that printing output has decreased. But it also reflects new travel policies and energy efficiency measures that have been implemented across the Group (in particular in printing facilities which represent an important part of our footprint).

DMGT is committed to reducing its emissions and we have embarked upon a comprehensive strategy to manage our Carbon Footprint. The Group has committed to reducing its Footprint by 10% from the baseline year of 2007 by the end of 2012.

Sustainability

We believe that the issues surrounding sustainability offer our businesses opportunities, aligning our interests with those of society as a whole. We are continually investigating how to employ more sustainable practices.

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