What are we doing?
We want to ensure that our transport services actively reduce the environmental impacts of travel. To do this we promote the environmental benefits of travelling by train and bus. We also work on reducing our own impacts.
Our environmental management programme is led by the Group Head of Environment (supported by a Senior Environmental Manager in North America) and by environmental representatives across the business. Our operating companies all work to minimum environmental standards against which they are periodically audited.
We led the industry by setting a target for all our UK operating companies to gain accreditation to the environmental management system standard ISO14001. All our UK companies have successfully achieved this.
In May 2008 our operations in the UK were accredited under the prestigious Energy Efficiency Accreditation Scheme (EEAS), an independent emission reduction award initiative. EEAS recognises organisations, which demonstrate energy savings through management commitment and investment in energy efficiency measures. We are the first transport company to complete the accreditation since the scheme was extended to include transport emissions.
Key achievements in 2009/10
- In the UK energy usage has reduced by 4% in UK Bus and 2.3% in UK Rail. In North America we now have baseline energy usage data for the majority of our properties (those we own or where we pay for energy).
- Since the introduction of our carbon reduction programme in 2006 we have reduced our carbon emissions per kilometre travelled in the UK Rail division by 6%. In the UK Bus division we reduced our carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5% per kilometre in the last two years.
- In both the UK and North America we are industry leaders in finding ways to improve our vehicles' fuel efficiency. We have fitted all our UK buses with driver advisory systems to help them drive more safely and fuel-efficiently. We are the first train operator to introduce equivalent systems in Rail. In North America we have conducted extensive trials to identify efficiency-boosting engine modifications.
- We have reduced water usage in the UK by 9.6%.
- In the UK our non-hazardous waste recycling rate lies at 31%, an improvement of 7% on last year. We continue to reduce the total amount of waste we produce. In North America we have centralised our waste management contract, which will provide us with waste data in the coming year.
Our London bus operations and First Capital Connect participate in the Green500 programme initiated by the Mayor of London. Green500 encourages large organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and recognises successful companies for their efforts. First Capital Connect received a Gold Award and our London bus operations a Silver Award at the Green500 Awards ceremony in June 2009.