According to the groups Corporate Responsibility report released yesterday, water consumed in 2011-2012 reached 1,793,954 cubic metres (m3), an increase from 1,589,507m3 in 2010-11.

In 2011-12, the Royal Mail expanded its eCOmanagement database system to include waste and water monitoring, improving levels of accuracy on water consumption and establishing the years increase.

The Royal Mail states that over 1000 water saving devices have been fitted to toilet cisterns to conserve water, adding that it continues to encourage employees to identify and report leaks to help prevent significant water wastage.

Speaking to edie, Corporate Responsibility manager for the Royal Mail, Alice Dickerson, claimed that improved data capture processes were the reason behind the increase but declined to comment further.

Despite this rise, the Royal Mail reported significant improvements in other environmental areas for the financial year 2011-2012.

The company reduced its carbon emissions to 745,605 tonnes in 2011-2012, from 789,862 in 2010-2011, while grams of C02 per mail item fell to 37.62 in 2011-2012, from 38.08 in 2010-2011.

Waste to landfill fell to 14,607 tonnes in 2011-2012, from 16,287 in 2010-2011, while waste recycled dropped to 14,087 tonnes in 2011-2012, from 19,760 in 2010-2011.

Leigh Stringer

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