environment 29
Grundon vehicle fleet goes CarbonNeutral
In a significant new environmental initiative, Grundon Waste Management has become the first of the major waste industry players to go CarbonNeutral across its entire 491-strong road-going vehicle fleet.
Partnering with The CarbonNeutral Company, a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions, Grundon is investing in a three year programme to offset vehicle emissions and support a community reforestation project in rural Uganda.
From January 1, Grundon can boast CarbonNeutral certification across its whole transport fleet, meaning that every time one of its vehicles collects waste from a customer site or one of its staff visits customers in a company car, it will not only be a CarbonNeutral journey, but will also avoid adding to a customer’s own carbon footprint.
The move is the latest step in the company’s own Environmental Management System and underlines its commitment to a more sustainable way of working.
Compliance manager Toni Robinson, who is based at Grundon’s Ewelme headquarters and has led the campaign to go CarbonNeutral, said: “We’re proud to be leading the industry and setting new standards in environmental management. Over the past decade we have put considerable focus on improving
our environmental credentials and have successfully reduced our carbon footprint by almost 80%.
“This is the next really big step and it’s one we’re incredibly excited and passionate about. For us, this is about so much more than just a sticker on the side of a truck, it’s a tangible demonstration of our commitment to continue to cut carbon emissions and, most importantly, it will have a huge benefit for the community in Uganda who we are helping.
“For our customers, it’s a reassurance that they are working with a business which is proud of its commitment to the green agenda and we’re sure they will welcome the fact we are not only cutting our own carbon emissions, but helping them reduce theirs too.”
Grundon expects to reduce 30,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over three years through its carbon finance programme.
The scheme, which has been validated to both the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Gold level of the Climate Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCB), pays smallhold farmers to plant trees in a bid to help reverse the country’s trend towards deforestation, reducing soil erosion and improving local biodiversity.
The more trees they plant, the more money they are paid and, as the
project matures in the longer term, farmers can expect to take a share of the 70% of net carbon revenues which go to the members.
Since the programme in Uganda began in 2003, nearly 4.5 million trees have been planted, with at present 6,284 members taking part across 691 villages. Each group can choose the types of tree it wants to plant, which means some varieties, such as nut or fruit trees, provide an alternative food source, while others can be carefully managed to provide a sustainable source of fuel.
The programme also provides training and facilities to improve crop production, advice on seed preparation and growing young trees, plus assistance with additional projects such as beekeeping, to provide further income.
In addition, community collaboration is encouraged to help share resources, and group meetings are also used to build knowledge and understanding on health issues, such as malaria and HIV/AIDS awareness.
Nathan Wimble from The CarbonNeutral Company, which works with over 350 businesses in
over 34 countries, including well- known brands Marks & Spencer, Avis, Tata Steel and travel giant TUI, said: “Grundon’s action and commitment to this project in Uganda is a terrific example of a business taking responsibility for its impact on the environment. Along with its impressive reductions in its carbon footprint, Grundon is setting a high bar for achievement.”
Fact and figures on Grundon’s commitment to the environment include:
• implementation of its own Environmental Management System that complies with ISO14001 and is part of the first company-wide IMS in the waste industry
• a recent £2.8 million investment in a fleet of 22 new environmentally- friendly vehicles, minimising fuel usage and improving efficiency
• 34% reduction in amount of gas used company-wide 2011-2012
• the ability to generate more electricity for its operations than it actually consumes
• planting of over 35,000 trees in the last decade.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – FEBRUARY 2014
www.businessmag.co.uk
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