EM awarded Carbon Trust Standard

EM Highway Services (EM) has reduced its carbon footprint and become the first highways maintenance service provider to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard (CTS).

Achieving this standard independently certifies the efforts in reducing the business’s carbon footprint relative to turnover.

Managing director Dave Wright said: “This achievement is testament to the efforts across our organisation in delivering one of EM’s key environmental policy commitments to reduce the carbon footprint across our commissions.”

The CTS is a voluntary certification and mark of excellence that provides public recognition of EM’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and a commitment to making future reductions. It’s widely considered as the world’s leading certifier of organisation carbon footprint reduction and as a standard bearer; EM is able to utilise the CTS logo to demonstrate the achievement.

EM was required to provide an accurate footprint measurement across its commissions and demonstrate a carbon footprint reduction relative to turnover and demonstrate good carbon management. The submission underwent scrutiny by an independent assessor who confirmed that EM has achieved a reduction in relative carbon footprint of more than 17% achieved over a three year period up to 2012/13.

EM delivered a wide range of improvements including more efficient works planning through the utilisation of GIS based systems helping reduce fuel consumption and the introduction of low carbon fuel vehicles, such as electric and bio-diesel run fleet vehicles. EM has also delivered fuel efficient driver training initiatives and invested in low energy lighting at depots.