Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for improving the current and future quality of life for all. As such the Department has a role in championing sustainable development across the whole of the UK and government.	(key) Scale of operations Expenditure (Million £): £3,736 Employees (FTE – including visitors and contractors) 24,476 Office space: 335,555 m2 Number of sites / Land Estate (ha): 497 / 15,400
Executive Agencies reported on: Animal health; Central Science Laboratory; Government Decontamination Service; Marine and Fisheries Agency; Pesticides Safety Directorate; Rural Payments Agency; Veterinary laboratories Agency; Veterinary Medicines Directorate. NDPBs and other bodies reported on: Environment Agency; Joint Nature Conservation Committee
2007/08 performance against Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) Targets
Overall Rating:
Performance against targets (key)   Carbon Emissions from Offices   Carbon emissions from Road Vehicles   Energy Efficiency   Waste Arisings   Recycling   SSSIs   Water consumption   Water consumption (new office builds or major refurbishment projects)   Electricity sourced from Renewables   Electricity from Combined Heat and Power
2007/08 performance against Mandate Mechanisms
Overall Rating:
Performance against targets (key)   Application of BREEAM   Environmental Management Systems   Sustainability Appraisals of office relocations   Departments to adopt The Carbon Trust’s CMP or EEAS   SDC review of 'operations' element of SDAP
2007/08 core department performance against SPAP
Overall Rating:
Performance against targets (key)   PUS performance objectives   Staff personal performance objectives   SDAP delivering procurement actions   Quick Wins   Engagement with key suppliers   SPTF Flexible Framework
Highlights: Reported carbon emissions from offices were 13% lower than the baseline levels. Carbon emissions from road-based administrative travel have reduced by 12.8% compared to baseline levels. 33.8% of all departmental waste was recycled or composted. 55.9% of electricity was derived from renewable sources. 92.6% of Defra staff are covered by a certified Environmental Management System.
Lowlights: Office energy efficiency in the department worsened with a 15% increase in energy use per m2 since baseline levels. Waste arisings increased by 10.6% compared to the baseline year. Reported water consumption has increased by 24.9% compared to baseline levels. Although 3.4% of electricity was derived from Combined Heat and Power, this is still significantly short of the 15% target set for 2010. None of the office relocations during 2007/08 had a sustainability appraisal undertaken, and one of the major refurbishments did not have a BREEAM assessment.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ own commentary on departmental performance

Building on the achievements of 2006/7, Defra has a costed delivery programme of initiatives to deliver its short and longer term SOGE targets and has secured appropriate funding for this. In addition, Salix funding has also been approved to support the on-going Carbon Management Programme. Several pilot initiatives that began last year are beginning to have a measurable impact on reducing carbon emissions from offices and have progressed from pilot into estate wide roll out.

Performance data has been independently assessed and validated by external consultants working to produce Defra's ISO14061 Carbon Footprint report. The data and reporting methodology has also been verified by the Carbon Trust as part of the EEAS and Carbon Trust Standard assessment process. External evaluation and validation of the data held and submitted in this report has increased confidence in the performance improvement trajectories that were developed last year for each of the SOGE target areas. The areas for improvement identified in the last SDiG report have been addressed. Waste arisings have decreased year on year by 9%, the Department has gained entry to the Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme and the recycling target for 2010 has already been exceeded. Data relating to EMS performance has been cleansed and is now robust and accurately reported. Water consumption remains a concern. The laboratory sector of the estate is responsible for 82% of Defra's total water consumption. Given the nature of their operation, water consumption will always be high. Every opportunity is being taken to reduce consumption, ranging from rainwater harvesting to behavioral change initiatives.