This week, we have been marking Net-Zero Week by reflecting on our positive progress towards becoming net-zero by 2050.
We are proud to let you know about another annual reduction in our carbon intensity, a vital step in our ongoing commitment to the environment and working in efficient and sustainable ways.
Our greenhouse gas emissions reporting for 2022-23, which is verified to accounting standard ISO 14064 (the generic way of reporting on greenhouse gas emission and removals), have shown a 16% reduction in our carbon intensity when compared with the previous year. This covers our direct emissions, our emissions from importing electricity and staff business travel.
The switch to the use of HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), a waste-derived biofuel, as a replacement for diesel in our vehicle fleet has helped towards this reduction. The fuel only uses waste products, not virgin crops, meaning we are repurposing waste to help the planet.
We are proud to be working with Green BioFuels (GBF) in the sourcing and supply of our HVO. With their help, we avoid issues of deforestation and palm oil use which, on occasion, can be associated with HVO use from less sustainable sources.
We are also improving efficiency of our fuel use in our commercial fleet by using telematics and encouraging eco-driving behaviours. Our telematics trials show a 4.8% reduction in greenhouse gases and we now have 40% of our commercial fleet using telematics to support eco-driving.
In September last year, M Group Services’ Carbon Reduction Group (CRG) was launched. Since then, the CRG has been meeting regularly to agree how we decarbonise our operations and meet our commitment to halve direct and imported electricity carbon emissions by 2030. We are currently developing our near-term targets for our upstream supply chain emissions, the largest source of indirect emissions from our operations.
Speaking on our efforts in carbon reduction, Andrew Hunt, Director of ESG & Innovation at M Group Services, said: “We are really proud of the early steps we are taking to decarbonise for ourselves, our clients and the planet at large! A 50% reduction in direct emissions by 2030 is firmly in our sights. Continuing to draw on the passion and experience of our operational teams, plant and fleet services expertise, and supply chain, we are confident that we are on the right road to delivering our near-term decarbonisation promises.”
While we are proud to celebrate our reduction in carbon intensity during Net-Zero Week, we are committed to driving continuous improvement across the business that help us towards achieving our ambitious ESG targets.
