Environment
DMGT is committed to comprehensive and transparent reporting of our environmental performance. We continue to reduce our carbon footprint consistently and strive to reduce our impact on the environment wherever possible. We have actively reduced our energy consumption across our offices and printing facilities through implementing operational efficiency enhancements and building modifications as recommended by independent experts. We are also working hard to ensure that our manufacturing business dmg media sources materials sustainably, and reduces and recycles waste. Whether through providing products that mitigate environmental risk, or organising nation-wide litter picks, our businesses are invested in long-term sustainability.
DMGT has a long-standing commitment to evaluating and managing its environmental impact and has measured and reported on its greenhouse gas (‘GHG’) emissions since 2007. Substantial progress has been made over the past 16 years as absolute Scopes 1 and 2 emissions have been reduced by 91% from 62,000 tCO2e in FY 2007 to 5,800 tCO2e in FY 2023 and the intensity of Scopes 1 and 2 emissions has reduced by 83% from 34.7 tCO2e per million pounds of revenue (tCO2e/£m) in FY 2007 to 5.8 tCO2e/£m in FY 2023. Absolute Scopes 1 and 2 emissions and their intensity over the period are shown in the graph below.
For the purposes of this report, the sources of Scopes 1 and 2 emissions included in DMGT’s footprint were:
- Scope 1 (direct emissions): combustion of natural gas for heating purposes and printing activities, use of diesel and gasoline in DMGT’s fleet and printing sites.
- Scope 2 (indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy): production of electricity imported from the grid and consumed by DMGT’s operating companies globally.
As a minimum, DMGT’s operating companies are required to comply with current regulations of the country that they operate in and to take steps to prepare for future legislative requirements. However, operating companies are expected to go beyond legislative requirements and further mitigate against the negative impacts from their activities wherever possible. DMGT’s most significant environmental impact comes from the printing facilities in its Consumer Media business.
DMGT is committed to comprehensive and transparent reporting of its environmental performance. The baseline year for DMGT’s carbon emissions is 2019 and the Group uses an operational control consolidation approach. The data supporting the carbon footprint is collated and independently reviewed by an environmental consultancy. The results of the footprint have not been audited by a third-party assurance company.
The footprint is developed in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards, and the methodology is also in line with HMG Environmental Reporting Guidelines. Emission factors used are predominantly sourced from the UK government’s GHG reporting conversion factors 2023. Other data sources are used for the emissions factors for the electricity consumed in non- UK operations. This report is in alignment with the requirements of the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting (‘SECR’) regulation for UK businesses.
In addition to its Scopes 1 and 2 emissions, DMGT has historically chosen to also monitor and report on some indirect emissions that result from its business activities, known as Scope 3 emissions. The calculation of Scope 3 emissions during FY 2023 includes the outsourced delivery of newspapers and air travel for business purposes, consistent with the basis in prior years. DMGT recognises, however, that there are many more sources of Scope 3 emissions across the full value chain of its businesses’ activities. The Group and its operating companies are currently in the process of identifying and quantifying these additional Scope 3 emissions and consequently the full range of Scope 3 emissions is not included in this report.
The current expectation is that the calculation of Scope 3 emissions in FY 2024 will include a far more comprehensive range of sources, such as materials used in print products and the third-party hosting of digital products, resulting in the reporting of a substantially larger total. It is also expected that to provide meaningful context, the historic comparative figures will be recalculated, including the use of estimates, to include the same sources of Scope 3 emissions as in the FY 2024 calculation. Transition plans to reduce emissions are currently being developed with the help of external consultancies. These plans are intended to take a comprehensive approach, including the additional sources of Scope 3 emissions that have not been reported previously.
DMGT’s FY 2023 carbon footprint, which covers the period from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023, totalled 13,900 tCO2e, including the limited sources of Scope 3 emissions described above. Emissions from UK operations amounted to 12,300 tCO2e, accounting for 88% of global emissions. The table below shows the footprint and energy use for FY 2023, by scope. For the purposes of comparability, the FY 2021 and FY 2022 figures have been restated to be consistent with the businesses and operations in the portfolio during FY 2023, notably the addition of Yopa.
Gross GHG emissions (in tCO2e)
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | |
| Scope 1 | 900 | 900 | 1,400 | 1,400 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Scope 2 | 4,900 | 4,300 | 6,500 | 5,900 | 6,700 | 6,100 |
| Scope 3 | 8,100 | 7,100 | 6,700 | 6,000 | 6,300 | 6,200 |
| Scope 1 + 2 + 3* | 13,900 | 12,300 | 14,600 | 13,300 | 14,000 | 13,200 |
Energy Consumption (in kWh)
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | |
| Scope 1 | 4,900 | 4,900 | 7,400 | 7,400 | 5,500 | 5,100 |
| Scope 2 | 22,300 | 20,700 | 32,100 | 30,500 | 30,300 | 28,700 |
| Scope 1 + 2* | 27,200 | 25,600 | 39,500 | 37,900 | 35,800 | 33,800 |
GHG emissions intensity (tCO2e/£m)
| FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | Global* | UK only | |
| Scope 1+2 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 9.1 |
| Scope 1+2+3 | 13.9 | 15.7 | 15.0 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 17.0 |
* Global figures include the UK
** All figures are rounded to the nearest hundred tCO2e. Consequently, totals may not appear to agree to the sum of the components.
There was a decrease in DMGT’s energy consumption and Scope 1 and 2 emissions in the year compared to FY 2022. The reduction in scope 2 emissions was achieved despite a 7% increase in the CO2e factor for UK electricity, as set by the UK’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Gross GHG emissions from Scopes 1 and 2 reduced by 27% in comparison to FY 2022, whilst the intensity of Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions reduced by 28% to 5.8 tCO2e per million pounds of revenue. Early in the financial
year, the Group’s largest office, Northcliffe House in London, was vacated in order to be refurbished. A substantial portion of Northcliffe House was sub-let to other tenants whereas the temporary offices are less than half the size of Northcliffe House. Consequently, energy consumption and associated emissions in FY 2023 were significantly lower than previous years. The reductions in emissions were also partly due to the closure of the Portsmouth printing plant in July 2022.
During FY 2023, the Consumer Media business made changes at its Dinnington printing plant to reduce emissions. These included improved insulation and temperature management systems, to reduce gas consumption, as well as the installation of LED lighting systems and a more energy efficient vacuum system used in the newspaper distribution process, to reduce electricity consumption. A more energy- efficient air conditioning system was installed in the main office of Landmark, the UK-based Property Information business, during the year and new LED lighting was installed in Landmark’s main office as well as smaller offices.
The Events & Exhibitions business not only took steps to reduce its own footprint, including undertaking show-specific audits of emissions, but has developed content and launched exhibitions to assist the energy sector to decarbonise and to transition to renewables. Carbon Capture Canada was held in September 2023 and the Global Energy Transition Congress and Exhibition is scheduled to be held in Milan in July 2024, whilst the Canadian Hydrogen Convention held in April 2023 was the first major exhibition and conference in North America to be fuelled by hydrogen.
DMGT aims to reduce its impact on the environment and energy consumption across its offices and printing facilities through implementing operational efficiency enhancements and building modifications. The Group also recognises the environmental benefit of refurbishing properties to avoid new construction and Northcliffe House, which is being refurbished currently, is targeted to be rated as ‘outstanding’ by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (‘BREEAM’).
During the year, progress was made identifying software systems to support operating companies’ emissions calculations and manage their journeys towards substantial reductions in emissions. Similarly, to help improve the quality and granularity of emissions data and develop the planning and delivery of reductions in emissions, KPMG is providing advice and support to the Consumer Media businesses and employee roles have been added within Property Information and Events & Exhibitions.
The Consumer Media businesses are working closely with the UK’s Advertising Association and major customers to improve understanding of the environmental impact of advertising and how this varies across different print and digital products. Following a global review and targeted reduction in the number of programmatic auction partners that the businesses work with, the carbon emissions associated with programmatic advertising on websites and apps have been reduced.
The Consumer Media businesses, with support from KPMG, are in the process of increasing the range of sources of Scope 3 emissions that are monitored and will be reported on for FY 2024, to provide comprehensive coverage, and are also working with KPMG to develop a plan to reduce emissions substantially. As Consumer Media accounts for the majority of the Group’s emissions, the enhanced visibility and plan are expected to be major steps towards DMGT delivering further significant reductions in its emissions over time. Also, by providing expert coverage of climate change and possible ways of reducing and mitigating future GHG emissions, DMGT’s New Scientist publication has an important role to play in the education of others.
Landmark, DMGT’s largest Property Information business, has signed the UK environmental industry’s ‘Pledge to Net Zero’, a partner of the United Nations’ ‘Race to Zero’ campaign. The pledge recognises the need for those in the environmental sector to demonstrate leadership and take strong actions to mitigate the most significant impacts of climate change. Landmark has published interim targets and is currently formulating its transition plan to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, relative to its 2019 baseline, by 90% by 2030 and to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 42% by 2030 and by 90% by 2050. As a major provider of environmental information about UK properties, the business has an important role to play publishing research and providing thought-leadership on practical steps to delivering a net zero carbon economy.
The Events & Exhibitions business, dmg events, has signed the ‘Net Zero Carbon Events’ pledge, administered by Joint Meetings Industry Council (‘JMIC’), the body that represents the combined interests of major international Meetings Industry associations. The pledge commits dmg events to delivering a net zero organisation by 2050 and to halving its carbon emissions by 2030. Good progress was made during the year building the strategy and transition plan to deliver on this pledge. The selection of dmg events by the UAE government as the organiser of the Blue Zone for the COP 28 conference is also testament to the business’s commitment to reducing emissions.
As well as focussing on GHG emissions, further steps were taken to reduce the overall environmental impact of DMGT’s products and operations. Notable examples include the development of sustainable stands for exhibitors to use at dmg events’ major shows and the use of compostable wrap for New Scientist magazines. Reducing the Group’s emissions on a like-for-like basis and delivering on its environmental commitments is considered to be particularly important and a failure to do so could have substantial adverse consequences.