Progress in 2005

We have been gathering data on our environmental performance since 2000. Commentary is provided below on a number of indicators and key trends that have emerged during 2005. The internal management processes for collecting and collating this data is externally verified by Bureau Veritas.

Energy Use

Despite increasing numbers of staff, electricity use decreased by over 1% through target setting, energy management and energy reduction measures at each UK site.
Gas use across all UK sites rose overall by around 4%. This is largely due to the colder temperatures over the year, which increased heating requirements during February and March.
Our overall energy consumption therefore decreased by approximately 0.2%, despite Legal & General employing more than 500 more staff than in 2004.

Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depleting Substances

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from our UK occupied properties increased by approximately 1%. This was due to an increase in gas use and to the fact that the figures now cover 100% of our occupied properties for the first time.
CO₂ emissions from our managed properties decreased sharply, mainly due to the sale of several larger sites. It remains difficult to draw direct year-on-year comparisons, due to the relatively quick turnover of building stock, but we endeavour to maintain a consistent approach by only measuring buildings that are managed for the full reporting year.
Fleet mileage increased from 2004 levels, and this is largely responsible for the increase in overall CO₂ figures. This increase in mileage is slightly offset by an increase in average efficiency of our fleet vehicles, and we will endeavour to reduce this mileage through the increased use of carpooling, teleconferencing etc. in 2006.
The average CO₂ rating of the fleet vehicles fell again to 172 g/km. As well as the increase in average vehicle efficiency across the fleet, a greater number of dual fuelled/hybrid/ electric vehicles have also been purchased. The figure now stands at 48, an increase of 21 over the previous year. It is particularly encouraging that this rise has been driven by staff demand.

Waste and Resource Use

We aim to minimise the amount of waste we produce by promoting reduce, re-use and recycle', and recycling facilities for paper, cups, card, plastic, glass, drink cans, batteries, phones, printer cartridges, spectacles and foil are in place in most offices.
As a result, waste management has improved for the fifth consecutive year, with our three largest sites now recycling over 72% of their total waste. Total waste arising from these sites has also fallen by over 6% since 2004.
However, the total waste produced across our entire UK operations has increased slightly, due to an increase in staff numbers (although waste per member of staff has decreased). This is offset by the increase in recycling, so the amount of waste sent to landfill has fallen.
In addition to recycling, we encourage reuse by providing exchange facilities for office stationery and books.
When refurbishing or constructing new buildings, we preferentially purchase building materials that can be reused and/or recycled.
In 2005 our water consumption increased slightly to 50,509m³.
Copier paper use has decreased by over 5%, both in absolute terms and in sheets per customer. In the coming year we will aim to reduce use all types of paper used throughout the business, and the environmental impact of the paper itself through stricter product specification.