We continue to invest significant effort and resources to improve the environmental performance of our offices in a way that enhances the wellbeing and productivity of our people. This year we reduced carbon emissions from energy consumption by 23% per full time employee, through a combination of ongoing energy efficiency projects and estates rationalisation. We reduced our paper consumption by 9%, contributing to a 36% overall fall since 2011. This is due to the continued benefits of secure printing, and our GAAP publications going digital. We continue to reduce our waste production and divert 97% of waste from our-directly controlled offices away from landfill.

There have been some challenges, in particular with our water consumption and travel emissions. We are undertaking remedial works in our London campus to address isolated but significant issues over the winter that led to an increase in water usage of 3% per FTE. We have also seen our travel emissions increase by 6% per FTE, cutting into the positive progress made in the last three years. Travel is an integral part of serving our clients and will remain so as we grow our global presence however, video-conferencing (VC) and online collaboration tools have real potential to help us to deliver low-carbon client engagements. Use of our VC systems increased by 35% in FY15 and we plan to continue enhancing these systems into FY16.

In FY16 we will place a renewed focus on managing our upstream and downstream impacts, particularly travel and procurement. We are currently undergoing certification as a pioneer for the Carbon Trust’s Supply Chain Carbon Footprint Standard. This allows us to further develop our sustainable procurement activities and use our buying power to positively influence the supply chain.