Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Sustainability Update: Our 3rd annual progress report

See the latest progress update on our ongoing transition to more sustainable ways of working in our 3rd Environmental Sustainability Report 2024.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2024

Since we published our first sustainability report in 2022, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has continued to develop and embed its sustainability agenda, re-shaping working practices, policies and expectations to support efforts to: 

• reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• protect and enhance the biodiversity at our sites worldwide
• promote a circular economy, through reducing resource consumption and waste generation 

Our teams across the globe are embracing and delivering against our sustainability agenda.

We are making tangible strides towards reducing the environmental impact of our activities worldwide and we have made real progress in delivering on the positive potential of our estate, both in terms of promoting greater biodiversity and sequestering more carbon dioxide.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is mandated to care for the 1.7m Commonwealth men and women who lost their lives in the World Wars in perpetuity. As such, we need to consider the present and longer-term risks presented by changing climatic conditions on our sites and operations, and work to address these risks. 

Combatting Climate Change

We have committed to a net-zero GHG emission target by 2050 and to reducing our emissions in line with climate science.

Over the latest reporting period, we recorded a combined 8.6% drop in our scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions, which include the direct emissions from our core activities and the indirect emissions associated with the electricity we consume (see the 2023 Sustainability Report for scope definitions). 

The main single contributing factor behind this decrease in emissions has been the partial switch to renewable electricity tariffs, but many of our other sustainability initiatives will also have contributed to this reduction.

 

As the graphic above shows, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has undertaken a wide range of initiatives as part of the commitment to combatting climate change, including:

• progressively switching to renewable electricity sources, which now account for 25% of our total electricity supply
• installing 15 photovoltaic solar panel systems and 5 solar thermal panels to support in-house renewable energy generation
• conducting 66 audits as part of our energy-efficiency audit programme over the past two years
• providing eco-driving training to 95% of our fleet vehicle drivers
• reviewing 142 sites worldwide to identify tree planting opportunities
• planting 2,158 additional trees over the past two years, enhancing the carbon sequestration and biodiversity potential of our estate

For the scope 3 emissions quantified to date, emissions unfortunately increased by 0.4% rather than decreased, due to increased business travel.

There is clearly work to be done in this area to align practice with our ambitions.

As part of our ongoing efforts to decarbonise our operations, we will:

• continue to consider options for transitioning to renewable electricity supplies when energy contracts come up for renewal
• expand the number of electric vehicles in our fleet
• continue to audit base sites and offices to identify potential energy efficiency opportunities

More details are available in the 2024 Sustainability Report.

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity

From the rolling green fields of northern France to the more tropical climes of the Far East, Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries and memorials sit within a huge variety of climates and ecosystems, with a delightful mix of differing flora and fauna.

However, the decline in biodiversity around the world is stark, and we are committed to playing our part in responding to this crisis by working to reduce the impact of our operations on the environment and by also delivering on the positive potential of our estate to promote greater biodiversity.

The drive to enhance the biodiversity potential of our estate has been embraced by many of our workforce and our progress has exceeded expectations. Working to improve biodiversity is now an accepted part of our responsibilities. 

By early 2024, we had improved the range of habitats available for wildlife by:

• allowing the grass to grow longer in carefully selected zones at 59 sites
• introducing wildflower zones and bulb/nectar-rich lawns at 109 sites, amounting to 81,251m² of biodiversity enhancement
• installing 314 bird boxes and 68 bat boxes
• introducing 98 bee and insect hotels of varying designs, many crafted or assembled in-house, to provide suitable egg-laying environments for important pollinators
• introducing 83 deadwood features in the form of piles, hedges and log pyramids, providing additional places for wildlife to rest, nest and feed

Importantly, we continue to progressively reduce our usage of herbicides, pesticides and biocides, and have achieved an amazing 94% reduction by volume in the use of these chemicals against our 2019 baseline. 

As a replacement to biocides, we have introduced an enzyme-based, headstone cleaning product. This product is now in use at all locations where we previously used biocides (predominantly northern Europe).

It is also in use in northern Italy, Malta and Singapore. We no longer order biocides for stone cleaning and are depleting any remaining stocks of such chemicals.

Promoting a circular economy

The Commission is striving to promote a circular economy approach, whereby resources are used efficiently, and are reused or recycled where possible to reduce overall resource consumption. This approach also reduces the quantities of waste generated, equating to more sustainable ways of working.

What does this mean for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?

Over the last 2 years, we have heightened our focus on water consumption, by:

• improving water metering and the collection of water consumption data across our sites worldwide
• rolling out a smart, software system that enables us to better optimise and track the water consumed by our irrigation systems
• developing water-efficiency targets tailored to each irrigation system
• introducing a water-efficiency audit programme for our buildings
• promoting the capture and re-use of rainwater

These advances have contributed to the 12.6% reduction in water consumption achieved over the last financial year.

In terms of efforts taken to reduce waste generation, we have:

• improved the arrangements for waste segregation at our offices to promote further recycling
• improved on-site composting capabilities at a number of sites
• heightened awareness of the need to consider how waste from structural and horticultural projects can be reduced, re-used and recycled

Here are some specific examples from the range of measures being undertaken to promote a circular economy:

• Rainwater harvesting systems have been installed at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan, and Brookwood Military Cemetery, UK. At Yokohama, our workers have been using the collected rainwater to clean tools, whilst at Brookwood the harvested rainwater will be used to support both the plants in our small nursery and the establishment of plants and trees around the site.
• In Malta, water filters have been installed on taps to improve the drinkability of the water, helping to reduce both the quantity of bottled water that needs to be purchased and the generation of single-use plastic waste.
• Within the UK, we are trialling an innovative mobile composting unit developed by a member of our UK team. Rather than having to transport green waste off-site, these units will enable us to compost our green waste in situ at certain locations where our plots are located within larger cemeteries and churchyards.

What’s next for sustainability at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?

We are in an exciting period of transition as we progressively move to more sustainable working practices. 

As mentioned previously, we have made tangible progress in our endeavour to transition to more sustainable way of working, but we recognise that we have much more to do to fully embed our transition throughout the organisation.

For more information on sustainability at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, please refer to our Sustainability page.