Whether a company is moving products, people or customers, transport is a fundamental part of everyday life and business activities.
For many companies, the issue of sustainable transport might seem to be of little relevance. However, managing the environmental impacts of business requires a proper understanding of the issues and can provoke a reassessment of the way in which work is organised.
For example, the telecommunications company, BT has long established practices that don’t require people to be located in an office in order to work. As pioneers of home working, or telecommuting, they have seen significant increases in the productivity of those who can reduce the distance they travel-to-work.
Even if staff are required to come together in the same location, progressive employers can do much to reduce the environmental impact of the daily commute. Promoting car sharing, providing interest free loans to purchase bikes and facilities for those who cycle to work are all possibilities – offered by companies like Vodafone. And for those organisations that provide company cars, it is important to make sure the fleet of vehicles on offer includes cars with hybrid engines and alternative fuels.
Then, of course, there are the more substantive aspects of sustainable transport that include the way in which goods are sourced, transported and delivered. Companies that are committed to sustainability need to consider the environmental impacts of transportation throughout the whole supply chain. This is clearly a complex issue, but understanding sustainable transport is at the heart of defining the environmental footprint of a company.
RELATED NEWS
Shipping emissions higher than believed
The annual carbon emissions of the world’s shipping fleet is 1.12bn tonnes of CO2 – three times higher than previous calculations – according to a UN report seen by The Guardian newspaper. The study – commissioned by the International Maritime Organisation – states that shipping is responsible for 4.5% of global emissions and that the aviation industry, which has been on the receiving end of much criticism, only accounts for 650m tonnes of emissions, half that of shipping.
According to The Guardian, the report further warns that shipping emissions are set to rise to 30% by 2020 and that other pollutants from shipping – such as soot and sulphur – are rising even faster putting the health of populations living close to shipping routes at risk.
The shipping industry has previously calculated levels of carbon emissions by considering the quantity of fuel bought by ship owners. However, the new data is considered more accurate as the figures are based on known engine size, time spent at sea, and the amount of fuel bought.
Contact The Guardian www.guardian.co.uk; International Maritime Organisation www.imo.org
London’s Low Emission Zone
A Low Emission Zone was launched in London on February 4. The zone has been established to reduce harmful emissions from the lorries, coaches and buses that run on diesel. Cars and motorcycles are not affected.
All lorries that weigh more than 12 tonnes will be required to meet emissions targets as will buses and coaches weighing more than 3.5 tonnes. These cuts in emissions have to be reached by July 7 or the vehicles will face a daily charge to drive within Greater London.
The zone is the first in Britain and the largest of its kind in the world and will be in force for 24 hours a day. It covers most of Greater London and it was launched by Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London. The aim of the scheme is to improve the air quality in London with a beneficial knock-on effect for the health of people living in the city.
Contact Transport for London 020 7222 1234 www.tfl.gov.uk
Porsche takes on the Mayor
The luxury car-maker, Porsche, has launched a judicial challenge against London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s emissions related congestion charge. The mayor is planning to increase the congestion charge for larger ‘Band G’ cars, which are those which emit more than 225 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Driving a Band G car in the capital’s congestion zone will cost £25, up from £8, and residents with Band G cars will lose their exemption – increasing their charge from 80p to £25.
Porsche are claiming that, using Transport for London’s own figures the savings expected to be made from emission related congestion charges in a year will be equal to the emissions from Heathrow between four minutes and at most four hours. The mayor has said that although the charge would only lead to a modest reduction in emissions, that the project revenue of £30m to £50m would be ploughed back into environmentally friendly transport schemes.
Most UK drivers do not know what the impact of their driving is on the environment according to a survey from the Environmental Transport Association released in February. The research found that 65% of British drivers do not know how much CO2 their cars produce when they are driving and that men worry about this less than women. The ETA also found that younger people were more environmentally aware. The ETA is an organisation that aims to raise awareness of the impact of car use and to help individuals and organisations to change the way they travel.
Contact Environmental Transport Association 0845 389 1010 www.eta.co.uk
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