The Highways Agency has put sustainability at the heart of its operation with the launch of its Sustainable Development Plan.
Dean Kerwick-Chrisp, Head of Sustainability, Equality and Diversity at the Highways Agency, said: "Operating and improving our strategic road network more effectively lies at the heart of greater sustainability.
"We recognise we have a key role to play in supporting economic recovery as these roads carry a third of all vehicle traffic and two thirds of all freight journeys in England and they are an integral part of our national way of life, providing links for communities and businesses and contributing to national wellbeing.
"It is important that we understand and limit the impacts that these roads can have on communities and the environment.
"Our Sustainable Development Plan sets out how we want to work together with our suppliers and others to ensure the impact of the roads we are responsible for is kept as low as possible while we deliver sustainable economic growth, improve quality of life for communities and protect our natural environment now and for future generations."
The Agency's Sustainable Development Plan seeks to make sustainable development central to the way the Agency and its partners operate.
For example, an innovative waste and materials procurement strategy developed on the M25 widening scheme between junctions 16 and 23 resulted in over £15m being saved by recycling over 70% of waste produced on site and finding new uses for imported waste materials.
The sustainable development plan is available on the Highways Agency website at http://www.highways.gov.uk/sustainability