What are we doing?

In June 2007 we achieved our target of reducing emissions by 25%
and are on target to reduce emissions by 50% in 2008.

Carbon Reduction Plan
The Commercial Carbon Reduction Programme is board-supported and employee-driven, through a Carbon Neutral Steering Group, that involves people from all different departments in reducing our impact on climate change.

Amongst the initiatives we have already undertaken are:

Fleet efficiency was improved through the use of a dynamic route mapping system developed by the Logistics Manager, Rob Paddock.  This will reduce the average mileage travelled by the vans by over 80,000 miles.

Dedicated installation vans reduced the amount of journeys undertaken and the number of cars being used as delivery vehicles.  The use of technology such as PDAs and the Network Operations Centre further reduced the amount of car miles travelled by engineers.

To fuel the vehicles we looked at a number of options, including using electricity and LPG, and decided on using bunkered biodiesel.  We then negotiated with a regional fuel supplier, Thomas Silvey Ltd, for the provision of high quality sustainable biodiesel from local sources, minimising the environmental impact further.

Following a lighting trial of various technologies, including LED and cold cathodes, we have introduced new lighting that will reduce electricity consumption by 68%, along with PIRs and zoning.

The company electricity supply is being migrated to a 100% renewable supply.  This will be completed in Q2 this year.  The use of onsite renewables has been considered and, at present is not viable, but is scheduled to be reconsidered in 2009.

The programme has targets of 25% reduction in six months, 50% in one year and 75% in three years.  The first target was reached in July 2007, based on results collated internally and provided by an Energy Saving Trust Green Fleet Review.

Waste Management

Commercial's award-winning Waste Management Programme has reduced the amount of waste going to landfill by 88.5% in 2007.

The Waste Hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is fundamental to the Commercial Waste Management Programme, to which we have added Rethink.

Rethink

First, we considered if we needed to do the process that produces the waste.  For example, by replacing disposable cups with china mugs, we have reduced the amount going to landfill by about 7%.

Reduce

Next, we reduced the amount of waste produced by the remaining processes.  For example, we are reducing our paper consumption by implementing rules-based printing.

Reuse

Any goods that we are discarding, we then see if we can reuse.  For example, we now reuse 97% plastic wrap, 95% of other packaging and 90% cardboard in our Packing Department.

Recycle

Finally, any product that can be recycled is sent to an appropriate destination.  We now recycle paper (sorted), cardboard, metals, plastics (including HDPE and PET), as well as conforming to WEEE and other relevant legislation.  In 2007, almost 15 tonnes was diverted from landfill by being recycled from our head office alone.