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News & Media > Sustainability

11:02:2010

Cutting emissions can deliver opportunities

May Gurney’s head of sustainability says there is consensus that climate change is real, its effects are already being felt - and we must respond to it.

Dr Tom Macagno says: “Here at May Gurney we have made a commitment to cut our carbon emissions by 50% by the end of 2012, and to be carbon neutral two years later.

“This is no easy task when you consider that last year we used 13,712,849 litres of fuel, and emitted 36,064 tonnes of carbon dioxide from fuel usage alone – 93% of the company’s total emissions.

“But there are a number of steps we are taking to start to bring this figure down, almost all of which can be adopted by many different businesses.”

Crucially, May Gurney has good support from employees at all levels, which will help overcome obstacles to the changes that must happen, especially as much depends on changes in human behaviour.

Key initiatives include:
• Getting our baseline certified, so we know our starting point. In 2008-09, our emissions were 39,342 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• Running awareness campaigns among employees, including a green photography competition, producing an information video and prominently displaying energy-saving stickers and signs.
• Introducing ‘Slim’ – a driver-training programme focusing on reducing speed, driving efficiently to maximise litres, reducing idle-time and better journey planning to cut mileage. All employees will have received the training by March 2010.
• Using satellite tracking to monitor the routes driven, and examining the data to see if we can save miles.
• Piloting a smarter driving course run by the Energy Saving Trust, initially for up to 50 employees. The impact of the course will be measured using satellite tracking data taken before and after the course.
• Trialling a new type of hybrid vehicle technology for commercial vehicles, which could save three tonnes of carbon dioxide per vehicle per year.

Tom Macagno concludes: “A management system, rather than standalone initiatives, is essential to embed the culture of change.

“We hope that carbon budgets for our six business sectors and individual depots will promote ownership and an element of competition, and that company car returns which include details of emissions will focus minds.

“Obviously, we can’t do this in isolation, and we must push for the UK to establish common standards for measuring carbon footprints and comparability, and for our supply chain to obtain certified carbon emissions audits.

“We must also work with our partners to look beyond short-term budget issues to consider long-term ways of adapting our business to cope with the climate changes that are already inevitable.

“Happily, there is a massive silver lining to all this. Sustainability and carbon reduction is a huge economic opportunity which will only strengthen with increasing volatility in oil prices.”

Click here to read more about May Gurney’s approach to addressing climate change.