TNT Express achieve Carbon Trust Waste Standard
TNT Express Services UK & Ireland is the first operator in the transport and logistics industry to be officially awarded the Carbon Trust Waste Standard for taking action on the amount of waste the business produces. Across both divisions – TNT Express and TNT Business Solutions – the company has improved its waste management throughout 2012 and 2013.
The company has also been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard for the third year in a row for reducing the amount of CO2 emissions it produced by 4.9% during the same period.
The Carbon Trust Waste Standard has been achieved thanks to the conscious efforts of TNT employees in correctly disposing of rubbish, significantly increasing the amount of waste sent for recycling. The company introduced new measures throughout the business, including:
· Specifically labelled recycling bins for aluminium, cardboard, paper and some plastics
· A renewed contract for disposal of rubbish with Biffa recycling
Such measures have enabled TNT Express and TNT Business Solutions to reduce the amount of waste it sends to landfill by more than 3,200 tonnes between 2011 and 2013. Over the same period the company increased the amount of waste sent for recycling by over 2,000 tonnes.
Michael Gifford, Associate Director at the Carbon Trust, said: “TNT Express is to be congratulated for becoming the first transport and logistics company to achieve the Carbon Trust Waste Standard. Through achieving independent certification that the company is dealing with its waste outputs more effectively year-on-year, the company is setting an example to both its customers and the logistics sector more broadly.”
“This fits with the company’s existing commitment to continue reducing its carbon emissions, as demonstrated by successful recertification to the Carbon Trust Standard.”
The Carbon Trust Standard certification was achieved by reducing the carbon emissions – both on the road and around its 70 depots, contact centres and administrative locations – saving more than 8,000 tonnes of CO2a year.
TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, which operates a fleet of more than 3,500 vehicles, has continued to introduce CO2-busting initiatives such as:
· Using all-electric vehicles
· Introduction of award-winning green transport electric delivery Gnewt cargo vehicles in London
· Longer trailers, creating 15% greater capacity per mile driven
· Double-deck trailers, creating 40% greater capacity
· Driver education, to encourage economic driving and better fuel consumption
· New policies to encourage switching off of lights
· Automatic lighting systems that only illuminate when rooms and warehouses are occupied
The specialist Gnewt cargo vehicles are predicted to significantly contribute to achieving the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s plans to establish central London as the world’s first ever Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in which all vehicles operating during working hours would be zero or low emission by 2020.
By using such electric vehicles, TNT Express will save an estimated 316kg of carbon for every 1,000 litres of fuel currently being used by a conventionally-fuelled vehicle making deliveries into the capital.
Alistair Cochrane, Managing Director TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, said: “The award of both certifications by the Carbon Trust recognises our commitment to reducing waste and carbon emissions year on year. It is something that we are proud to tell our customers, reflecting TNT’s company-wide determination to reduce our environmental impact.”
