Measuring environmental performance is an evolving process within government and business. This environmental report represents a significant milestone for DPC, as Financial Reporting Direction (FRD) 24 introduces 42 key reporting indicators for the first time this year, a substantial increase from the previous 14 measures.
Due to the changing key reporting indicators, there are instances where data from previous reporting periods is not available for inclusion in certain sections of this report. Absence of data for this reporting period is denoted as ‘NC’ in this report, indicating ‘not collected’. DPC is committed to improving reporting standards and data collection so the full set of new FRD 24 indicators can be reported on in the next 12 to 24 months.
DPC’s commitment to sustainability drives diverse operational activities and ongoing workplace environment management, effectively reducing its environmental footprint. This ensures a continued focus on sustainability. Key initiatives include:
- integrating environmental considerations into all tender specifications, demonstrating environmentally responsible procurement
- adopting a tri-stream approach (landfill, commingled and organics) for waste disposal, promoting waste minimisation and recycling
- prioritising energy efficiency with the use of appliances and sensor lighting that conserve energy
- sourcing sustainable furniture, with a preference for locally produced items, exemplified by office workstations holding a trusted Global GreenTag certification
- practising responsible relocation with significant clean-up activities and sustainable waste disposal
- actively recycling usable furniture and equipment during refurbishments or relocations to reduce waste
- adopting digital solutions to curtail paper-based activities, fostering a shift towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
Through these concerted efforts, DPC is poised to make a lasting impact on sustainability, paving the way for a greener and more environmentally conscious future.
The department's environmental management system
The AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016: Environmental Management Systems is an international standard that provides a framework that organisations can use to establish and implement effective environmental management systems to improve their environmental performance.
The development of the environmental management system is a crucial step for DPC in identifying and managing its environmental aspects across various operational activities. By aligning with AS/NZS ISO 14001:2016, DPC aims to adhere to best practices and meet regulatory requirements while also aligning with evolving community expectations.
DPC understands that maturing in this space is an ongoing process and will require collaborative efforts and consistent dedication. Through targeted initiatives and the integration of sustainable practices into its operations, DPC aims to develop a mature and impactful environmental management system that aligns with the ISO standard, fostering a greener and more sustainable future.
Reporting boundary for environmental data
DPC’s report on environmental data covers the 2022–23 reporting period. The data has been collected through consumption reports, audits and surveys encompassing all departmental sites and assets where DPC holds operational control.
DPC reporting excludes sites where DPC staff are located within another Victorian Government entity’s facility. In these limited situations, the entity who is the owner or primary lessee is responsible for FRD 24 reporting for all staff in the building.
Where other Victorian Government entity staff are accommodated within a DPC-managed site, reporting of consumption figures has been included in this annual report — for example, co-location or any machinery of government changes within the year. All other DPC public sector entities are excluded from this reporting.
As DPC aligns with the new FRD 24 guidelines, reporting requirements have been expanded to encompass the evolving organisational landscape. While this report does not serve as a baseline, it marks a crucial step in DPC’s journey towards responsible environmental stewardship. With reporting boundaries now being defined and data collection procedures in place, driven by the new requirements, DPC is poised to establish a definitive baseline next year. This will enable us to track environmental performance more comprehensively and further enhance sustainability practices in the years to come.
Climate-related risk disclosure statement
Climate change has the potential to directly and indirectly affect the services and programs that DPC delivers on behalf of the Victorian Government. This requires ongoing effort to understand and respond to risks, develop opportunities, and build resilience to climate impacts.
DPC aims to lead the Victorian public sector in ways that support Victoria’s transition to net zero emissions and a climate-resilient state. Through this statement, DPC aims to:
- communicate its actions to understand the impact of climate change on DPC assets, operations and services
- demonstrate that DPC’s environmental impacts are responsibly managed and mitigated
- support the efficient allocation of resources to transition operations to net zero emissions and improve environmental performance over time.
Climate-related risk governance
DPC adheres to the Victorian Government Risk Management Framework, which follows the standard AS ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management — Guidelines. This internationally recognised framework serves as the basis for DPC’s best practice risk management activities.
Climate-related risk strategy
DPC is continuing to build its understanding of climate-related risks and opportunities and to assess and monitor their relative potential impacts. To support this, DPC is undertaking a whole of department climate-related risk maturity self-assessment. DPC recognises the importance of considering the actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities for business and financial planning. These include:
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from DPC’s operations in line with Victorian Government commitments
- improving environmental performance monitoring, evaluation and reporting
- supporting the continuing uptake of renewable energy and other low-emissions technologies across Victoria
- monitoring the impact of increased temperatures and extreme heat on DPC operations, including the health and safety of staff operating outdoors.
Climate-related risk management
DPC’s Risk Management Framework requires consideration of the operating context, including climate change, to identify, assess and manage risks and opportunities. The framework is aligned to the Victorian Government Risk Management Framework and provides guidance for designing, implementing, monitoring, reviewing and continually improving risk management throughout DPC.
Climate-related risks are assessed and managed at the strategic, operational and program/project levels, including through operational risk management activities and climate-related programs.
Climate-related metrics and targets
DPC reports climate-related metrics in line with FRD 24, aligning with government reporting requirements. Data is obtained from suppliers, equipment metering, reports and surveys and is used to assess and manage relevant climate-related risks and opportunities.
DPC works with internal and external stakeholders towards achieving the targets established under Victoria’s Climate Change Strategy 2021–2030 as follows:
- The Victorian Government will source 100 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
- From 2021, all new Victorian Government buildings will have embedded environmentally sustainable design with a minimum five-star energy performance rating to apply to new office buildings and tenancy fit-outs. This will be increased to six-star (the highest rating for office buildings) in 2025.
- Government leases will also preference higher rated buildings and those with Green Lease Schedules.
Greenhouse gas emissions
DPC reports on greenhouse gas emissions broken down into emissions ‘scopes’ consistent with national and international reporting standards. Scope 1 emissions are from sources that DPC owns or controls, such as burning fossil fuels in vehicles or machinery. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from DPC’s use of electricity from the grid, which still uses coal and gas-fired power generation. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions from sources DPC does not control but does influence. DPC reports only scope 3 emissions from corporate air travel and waste disposal.
Total greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel for 2020–21 and 2021–22 was zero due to carbon offsets being purchased through the booking agency as directed by the Department of Treasury and Finance. No carbon offsets were purchased through the booking agency for 2022–23, with the greenhouse gas emissions for air travel at 177 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). Data is calculated using total passenger kilometres and the average emissions factor of 1.43198 × 10–4 tonnes/passenger kilometres for domestic aviation.
| Indicator | 2022–23 | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO2-e) [Indicator G1] | 122 | 142 | 155 |
| Total scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions (tonnes CO2-e) [Indicator G2] | 1,500 | 2,325 | 2,650 |
| Total scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from commercial air travel and waste disposal (tonnes CO2-e) [Indicator G3] | 203 | NC | NC |
Electricity production and consumption
DPC’s electricity consumption covers tenancies at 1 Macarthur Street, 1 Treasury Place, 3 Treasury Place, 1 Spring Street and 35 Collins Street.
The total electricity consumption for DPC over the 2022–23 reporting period was 1,930 megawatt hours (MWh), which is a 7 per cent decrease from the previous reporting period.
DPC exclusively leases offices with electricity, gas and water as the sole energy sources, without ownership or access to any other energy sources.
| Indicator | 2022–23(1) | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total electricity consumption (MWh) [Indicator EL1] | |||
| Purchased electricity — consolidated | |||
| Department offices | 1,930 | 2,076 | 2,339 |
Note:
(1) These include the offices of DPC, offices that are no longer part of DPC following machinery of government changes still co-locate in DPC tenancies, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
Stationary fuel use
The total fuels used in buildings over the 2022–23 reporting period was 2,247,123 megajoules (MJ), which is an 8 per cent increase from the previous reporting period. The increase can likely be attributed to the absence of remote work directives during this reporting period, allowing staff to operate without COVID-19 restrictions.
The total greenhouse gas emissions from stationary fuel consumption over the 2022–23 reporting period was 116 tonnes CO2-e, which is a 12 per cent decrease from the previous reporting period.
| Indicator | 2022–23(1) | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total fuels used in buildings and machinery (MJ) [Indicator F1] | 2,247,123 | 2,076,117 | 2,338,874 |
| Buildings | 2,247,123 | 2,076,117 | 2,338,874 |
| Natural gas | 2,247,123 | 2,076,117 | 2,338,874 |
| Machinery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Diesel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions from stationary fuel consumption (tonnes CO2-e) [Indicator F2] | 116 | 132 | 149 |
Note:
- These include the offices of DPC, offices that are no longer part of DPC following machinery of government changes but still co-locate in DPC tenancies, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
Transportation
DPC uses vehicles from the Shared Service Provider vehicle pool for its operational car travel.
Energy used in transport fuels decreased by 32 per cent, with the significant decrease attributed to an amended reporting methodology.
Total distance travelled by commercial air travel (passenger kilometres) for DPC over the
2022–23 reporting period increased by 190 per cent. This can be attributed to a full reporting cycle without restrictions on interstate and international travel.
| Indicator | 2022–23 | % | 2021–22 | % | 2020–21 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number and proportion of vehicles [Indicator T2] | 188 | 100 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Road vehicles | 188 | 100 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Passenger vehicles | 188 | 100 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Internal combustion engines | 106 | 56 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Petrol | 93 | 49 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Diesel/biodiesel | 13 | 7 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Hybrid | 80 | 43 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) | 80 | 43 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Range-extended electric vehicle | 0 | 0% | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Electric propulsion | 2 | 1 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Battery electric vehicle | 2 | 1 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) | 0 | 0 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Indicator | 2022–23 | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total energy used in transportation (MJ) [Indicator T1] | 97,998 | 143,418 | 87,065 |
| Road vehicles | |||
| Passenger vehicles | 97,998 | NC | NC |
| Petrol | 86,859 | 135,158 | 26,368 |
| Diesel | 11,138 | 8,260 | 55,430 |
| Electricity (MWh)(1) | NC | 0 | 146 |
| Goods vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petrol | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Diesel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electricity (MWh) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle fleet (tonnes CO2 -e) [Indicator T3] | 7 | 10 | 6.15 |
| Road vehicles |
| ||
| Passenger vehicles | 7 | NC | NC |
| Petrol | 6 | 9.42 | 1.84 |
| Diesel | 1 | 0.58 | 3.91 |
| Electricity | 0 | 0 | 0.4 |
| Goods vehicles | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petrol | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Diesel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electricity | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total distance travelled by commercial air travel (passenger km) [Indicator T4] | 733,540 | 252,870 | 42,044 |
Note:
(1) Data gap for PHEVs on-site charging.
Total energy use
The total energy used by DPC over the 2022–23 reporting period was 9,294,341 MJ, which is a 4 per cent decrease from the previous reporting period.
| Indicator | 2022–23(1) | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total energy usage from fuels (stationary and transportation) (MJ) [Indicator E1] | 2,345,121 | 2,219,535 | 2,425,939 |
| Total energy used from electricity (MJ) [Indicator E2] | 6.949,220 | 7,474,021 | 8,419,946 |
| Total energy used segmented into renewable and non-renewable sources (MJ) [Indicator E3] | 9,294,341 | 9,693,556 | 10,845,885 |
| Renewable | 1,295,335 | NC | NC |
| Non-renewable | 7,999,006 | NC | NC |
| Units of energy used normalised by full-time equivalent (FTE) employees [Indicator E4](2) | 9,802 | NC | NC |
Notes:
(1) These include the offices of DPC, offices that are no longer part of DPC following machinery of government changes but still co-locate in DPC tenancies, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) FTE includes other Victorian Government entity staff who are accommodated within a DPC-managed site — for example, co-location and machinery of government changes within the reporting period.
Sustainable buildings and infrastructure
Leases negotiated on behalf of DPC by the Shared Service Provider and Jones Lang LaSalle are done so with a Green Lease Schedule incorporated in the Standard Government Lease. During each lease negotiation, the Green Lease Schedule is put forward to the landlord or managing agent including where lease option periods are being executed. The Green Lease Schedule outlines obligations on both the landlord and tenant to maintain the property and/or premises to a minimum required National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) rating for energy, water, waste and/or indoor environment.
Environmentally sustainable design in new buildings and infrastructure
Two of DPC’s buildings have received environmental performance ratings. No other new buildings were commissioned by DPC in this reporting period.
| Name of building | Building type | Rating Scheme | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levels 13–15, 35 Collins Street | Office building | NABERS | 4.5 |
| Level 9, 1 Spring Street | Office building | NABERS | 5 |
Sustainable procurement
DPC continued to commit to the sustainable practice of environmental considerations in tender specifications for project-specific tender documents including environmentally sustainable outputs, business practices and implementation of Climate Change Policy objectives.
Water consumption
DPC’s water consumption reporting covers tenancies at 1 Macarthur Street, 1 Treasury Place, 3 Treasury Place, 1 Spring Street and 35 Collins Street.
Total water consumption for DPC over the 2022–23 reporting period was 2,970 kilolitres (kL), which is an increase of 33.7 per cent from the previous reporting period. The increase can likely be attributed to the absence of remote work directives during this reporting period, allowing staff to operate without COVID-19 restrictions.
| Indicator | 2022–23(1) | 2021–22 | 2020–21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total water consumption by an entity (kL) [Indicator W1] | 2,970 | 2,222 | 3,137 |
| Potable water consumption | 2,970 | 2,222 | 3,137 |
| Metered reused water consumption | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Units of metered water consumed normalised by FTE [Indicator W2](2) | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Notes:
- These include the offices of DPC, offices that are no longer part of DPC following machinery of government changes but still co-locate in DPC tenancies, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
FTE includes other Victorian Government entity staff who are accommodated within a DPC-mana
Waste and recycling
DPC’s waste reporting covers tenancies at 1 Macarthur Street, 1 Treasury Place, 3 Treasury Place, 1 Spring Street and 35 Collins Street.
Total waste generation for DPC over the 2022–23 reporting period was 32,901.24 kilograms (kg).
| Indicator | 2022–23(1) | % | 2021–22(3) | % | 2020–21(3) | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total units of waste disposed (kg and %) [Indicator WR1] | 32,901.24 | 100 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Landfill (disposal) | 20,071.72 | 61.01 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Recycling/recovery (disposal) | ||||||
| Food organics, garden organics (FOGO) | 6,388.36 | 19.42 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Commingle | 2,706.61 | 8.23 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Cardboard | 3,734.55 | 11.35 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Percentage of office sites that are covered by dedicated collection services [Indicator WR2] | 5 | 100 | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Printer cartridges | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Batteries | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| E-waste | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Soft plastics | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Total units of waste disposed of normalised by FTE (kg/FTE) [Indicator WR3](2) | 34.69 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Recycling rate (%) [Indicator WR4] | 38.99% | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste disposal (tonnes CO2-e) [Indicator WR5] | 26.09 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Landfill | 26.09 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
| Other | 0 | NC | NC | NC | NC | NC |
Notes:
(1) These include the offices of DPC, offices that are no longer part of DPC following machinery of government changes but still co-locate in DPC tenancies, the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Wage Inspectorate Victoria and the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) FTE includes other Victorian Government entity staff who are accommodated within a DPC-managed site — for example, co-location and machinery of government changes within the reporting period.
(3) Waste and recycling data from 2020–21 and 2021–22 is unavailable because waste audits were not carried out during these reporting periods due to low office attendance rates during COVID-19.
Legend
DSL: diesel
FTE: full-time equivalent employee
kg: kilograms
kL: kilolitres
km: kilometres
L: litres
LPG: liquefied petroleum gas
m2: square metres
MJ: megajoules
MWh: megawatt hour
CO2-e: carbon dioxide equivalent
ULP: unleaded petrol
Updated