SOFT Footprint Summary Report

Our 2006 SOFT Footprint Summary Report demonstrates our current environmental data collection and reporting methodology for energy, travel, and paper consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

RBC 2006 SOFT Footprint Report

According to observed trends, year-over-year, we continue to reduce our demand for the environmental indicators we track.  Specifically, since 2004, RBC has reduced our energy consumption per employee in our Canadian branch network by approximately 12 percent.  RBC has also reduced our paper use by nearly four percent from 2005.  However, it is unclear at this time whether these reductions are a result of improved environmental data management or the result of efficiency improvements, or both.  We anticipate that the on-going development, analysis and implementation of SOFT Footprint will answer this question.

Notes:
¹FTE – Full Time Equivalent (employees)
²sq. m. – square meters
³Canada Energy consumption is based on actual reported consumption for the period July 1 - June 30 (2004 and 2005) and cost-derived consumption data for the period November 1 – October 31 (2006)
⁴MWh – Mega Watt hours
⁵Energy Coverage refers to the (%) total energy consumption data available by square meter
⁶US Energy consumption data for 2005 is reported for the period January 1 through December31 by actual consumption record
⁷Travel data represents Canada, US, UK and Channel Island operations and is reported for the period January 1 through December 31
⁸2006 Air miles (Canada, US, UK and Channel Islands) reported for period January 1 through October 31, 2006.  Mileage for 2004 and 2005 is reported for full calendar years
⁹Travel Coverage refers to the (%) total travel miles data available by RBC FTE employees
¹⁰Paper data reported for Canada and the US
¹¹Direct mail data not available or included
¹²Paper Coverage refers to the (%) total paper consumption data available by RBC FTE employees
¹³CO2 – carbon dioxide
¹⁴CO2e – Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 and methane (CH4))

*Greenhouse gas emissions calculated using the following emission factors and sources:

¹³Energy and Travel greenhouse gas (CO2) emission factors were cited from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol of the World Business Council of Sustainability (www.ghgprotocol.org)
¹⁴N/R – Not required
¹⁵Paper greenhouse gas emission factors (CO2 and CH4) were made using the Environmental Defense Paper Calculator (www.papercalculator.org)

There are variations between the 2004 and 2005 data reported herein and that reported previously in our Corporate Responsibility Report for our website and our submissions to the Carbon Disclosure Project.  These variations are a result of our ability to capture and report on a greater proportion of our operations; a change in greenhouse gas emission factors by the WBCSD; and the quality of environmental data reported by our service providers.  We expect these figures will continue to change as SOFT Footprint is more fully implemented, and we will continue to report any such changes.

The environmental data reported herein has not been verified by a third party.  We continue to work to improve the reliability of the environmental data we report so that it more accurately reflects the enterprise-wide RBC SOFT Footprint.

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