Global reach: light touch (original) (raw)
There’s no doubt that a digital infrastructure has helped Guardian News & Media to become the global news organisation that it is today. But we work hard to reduce the impact this makes on the environment.
We have built systems and technical platforms that are stable, scalable and flexible. They are more energy efficient, require us to use fewer computers and devices and they allow for remote working. These upgrades are estimated to have reduced global network carrier operational costs by 40%. We are tracking and measuring how our data moves around our network and the associated cost and carbon.
Following a recent redesign project at all of our data centres, we have been able to get rid of more than 50% of our physical servers in our Bracknell data centre. This means our energy consumption has dropped from 150kw to less than 60kw, a reduction of 14% or 171tCO2e.
We have also replaced almost 500 desktop computers with Energy Star certified notebooks and monitors (all the old kit is treated in accordance with the WEEE directive and internal guidelines).
Despite a new internal approval process, and as a result of our ongoing global expansion, our use of international flights has seen a 45% increase in associated carbon emissions to 2498tCO23. We are encouraging people to use the technology that is available to reduce the need for travel.
Our carbon emissions 2014/15
To improve energy efficiency at our print sites, we introduced a cross-skills training scheme that has benefits for both individuals and the business. We have also been testing the feasibility of capturing wasted heat from our compressors and we continue to monitor the entire printing process, to find ways in which we can use less energy.
We introduced new print software that allows us to use less ink while maintaining the quality of our image reproduction. But, despite that, our ink consumption went up by 3% or 28,000kg across all sites including our contract magazine publishers. This is due to the introduction of our newly monthly supplement, Do something, which was published for the first time last year.
Overall, our London and Manchester print centres reduced carbon emissions by 6% and Polestar, our contract magazine printer, reduced theirs by 3%. That saved 436tCO2e in 2014/15.
Paper
Our paper consumption is responsible for our biggest impact on the environment. Over the last year, we reduced the amount of stock we buy from Canadian suppliers because of issues over quality and sustainability concerns raised by Greenpeace and Canopy. This was replaced with a UK recycled supply, which did increase our paper carbon footprint by 11% to 391kgCO2e per tonne of newsprint. But buying this stock also increased our recycled content to 87%, reducing our damage to ancient virgin forests. You can read about our latest paper policy here.
Guardian Members
The launch of Guardian Members in September 2014 means we are having a greater impact on our physical environment, as a result of the scheme’s busy events programme. Work is ongoing on The Midland Goods Shed, a new home and events space for Guardian Members, which is due to open in 2016.
The project team there is working to a set of sustainability goals that align with our values: they are focusing on the areas of community inclusion; wellbeing and health: energy and carbon: water; waste; sustainable materials and land use and nature.
Suppliers
Because we rely on suppliers and partners to do what we do, we don’t always have direct control over our impact on the environment and people. That means how we communicate and connect with each other is crucial. So, this year, we continued to work on developing our procurement values programme. We asked colleagues across departments and territories ‘what does it mean to supply to the Guardian?’. Their feedback has helped us to produce a draft Guardian Sourcing Values, document which is currently being tested and refined. Our hope is that it will reassure colleagues and readers that all our suppliers and service providers share our commitment to living our values.
We would love to hear you views and comments. What do you like, what would you change? You can leave your comments at the bottom of this article.