Lafarge join ‘green’ business elite
Ongoing commitment to carbon reduction sees company re-certified to the Carbon Trust Standard
LAFARGE have joined an elite set of ‘green’ firms to achieve re-certification of the Carbon Trust Standard.
Only a third of companies have succeeded in regaining the Standard – the world’s first carbon-reduction award for organizations taking action on climate change.
Lafarge Aggregates & Concrete UK, based in Syston, Leicestershire, obtained re-certification thanks to ever-evolving energy-saving initiatives which have slashed carbon emissions by 16% over the last five years.
The Carbon Trust Standard is the world’s first carbon award and requires organizations to measure, manage and reduce their carbon emissions, and make real reductions year on year.
First certified in 2010, Lafarge were able to show further positive steps on cutting carbon in the two years since then.
Energy-saving measures have included: using ducting to redirect heat generated from compressors to warm-up workshops; installing timers on office heaters; installing individual switches on lighting; implementing ‘soft starts’ on crushers and conveyors; establishing more vigorous maintenance and repair programmes to optimize efficiency of equipment; and, at Dowlow, replacing the bi-monthly grass-cutting routine with sheep grazing.
Helen Atkins, CRC and energy performance adviser, said: ‘It was a huge achievement to gain the Carbon Trust Standard the first time round, but to achieve re-certification is an even bigger achievement.
‘Only a third of companies regain the Standard, so we are absolutely delighted to be among those top organizations making a real commitment to cutting carbon emissions and acting on climate change.’
Lafarge first achieved the Carbon Trust Standard following three years of carbon-management initiatives and independent verification.
The Standard certification was awarded to all of the company’s UK operations and subsidiaries, including 35 quarries, 98 ready-mixed concrete plants, 17 asphalt plants, depots and the company’s head office at Granite House, Syston.
Carbon-reduction initiatives ranged from simply encouraging people to turn-off lights and equipment to installing electricity meters with half-hourly monitoring so usage could be tracked and controlled.
Workshops were held across the business encouraging staff to take ownership of energy-reduction schemes on site and come up with their own ideas.
This grass-roots approach helped Lafarge regain the Standard as ‘attitude change’ and ‘idea generation’ quickly spread and became embedded across the workforce.
Helen Atkins added: ‘Both the initial achievement and now the re-certification has taken a lot of hard work and effort, especially from staff on the ground.
‘I’m really proud of our all our teams and the way people have got on board with the carbon-reduction message. Raising awareness and encouraging different behaviours has been key to this continued success.’
