02/10/2009
- Transport group named Best Green Travel Provider
- Bio-bus project wins award for Best Green PR Campaign
Stagecoach Group was the big winner at the inaugural Scottish Green Awards last night (Thursday 1 October) after picking up two top honours.
The Perth-based transport group further cemented its position as a greener, smarter organisation by being named Best Green Travel Provider at the event.
The company was also awarded the Best Green PR Campaign honour for its innovative Bio-bus initiative.
Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian Souter said: "These awards further demonstrate our commitment to tackling the challenge of climate change by encouraging greater use of public transport as well as reducing our own carbon footprint as a company, and we’re delighted that our efforts have been recognised.
"We hope that, by promoting our message of greener, smarter travel through low-carbon, good value and reliable public transport, we can encourage our customers and staff to think about ways in which they can live greener lives."
Stagecoach has introduced a number of high-profile green initiatives, including the UK’s first Bio-bus scheme in the west of Scotland which involves running eight vehicles on 100% bio-diesel. The bio-fuel is manufactured from used cooking oil and other food industry by-products, all from sustainable sources, and the project allows customers to exchange used cooking oil for discounted bus travel. Since the initiative was launched in October 2007, it has cut CO2 emissions from the buses by 80%, saving 1470 tonnes of carbon, and more than 66 tonnes of used cooking oil has been recycled.
Other Stagecoach green initiatives include the introduction of Scotland’s first carbon neutral bus network between Edinburgh and Fife, and a Reverse Vending scheme in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, which allows passengers to recycle drinks cans and bottles, using a high-tech reverse vending machine, in return for discounted bus travel.
Earlier this year, Stagecoach held its first ever Group-wide Green Week to highlight the environmental benefits of using public transport and to show staff and passengers how the company is reducing its own carbon footprint.
Stagecoach has also launched a three-year Carbon Management Programme (CMP), in partnership with energy management consultancy Inenco, to further improve its environmental performance.
The Group's wide-ranging strategy to tackle climate change and make its business more sustainable includes:
- Investing in more fuel efficient vehicles
- Using alternative, renewable fuels
- Providing training in more efficient driving techniques
- Saving energy at offices and depots
- Conserving and recycling water
- Reducing and recycling waste
- Reducing business travel
- Providing affordable bus and rail travel
- Developing green travel plans and incentives for staff, customers and partner organisations.
The 2009 Scottish Green Awards, created by Scottish Business Insider in partnership with ScottishPower, recognised organisations that encourage sustainability and tackle climate change. A total of 12 awards were handed out at the ceremony which took place at the Glasgow Science Centre. The judging panel was headed by Dr Richard Dixon, Director, WWF Scotland and also included Martin Baxter, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment; Brendan Dick, BT Scotland; Andrew Green, BPI Recycled Products; Mark Henderson, Ecoliving; Calum MacDonald, Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Louise Macdonald, RSA; and Richard Moir, Cisco Systems Ltd.
For further information on Stagecoach's sustainability strategy and measures the Group is undertaking to tackle climate change, visit www.stagecoach.com.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.
For further information contact:
Lindsay Reid
Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com
