Speaking on World Earth Day, Baxi calls emissions reduction an “important step forward” Baxi’s carbon emissions[1] last year were 35 per cent lower than they were two years ago, the company’s sustainability report will say when it is published next week. The biggest reason for this reduction was the decision
Specialist equipment rental group Vp plc formalises its environmental ethos. To help mark Earth Day on April 22nd, global specialist equipment rental group Vp plc has officially launched its Short Term Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050. The roadmap was actually initiated in 2021 and has already marked a number
Drax, the UK-based power plant, has become the first in the world to capture carbon dioxide from the burning of wood fuel. It has started a demonstration of a new technology that will capture 1 t/day of CO2 from a 100% biomass feedstock. The £400 000 project brings the prospect of
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Speaking on World Earth Day, Baxi calls emissions reduction an “important step forward” Baxi’s carbon emissions[1] last year were 35 per cent lower than they were two years ago, the company’s sustainability report will say when it is published next week. The biggest reason for this reduction was the decision to buy electricity only from renewable sources. The company is targeting an annual five per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations from 2019 to 2030. This is in addition to a 30 per cent reduction in emissions in the supply chain producing the materials and components that go into its appliances, as well as the emissions produced ‘downstream’ by its products by 2030. The latest figures represent an important step in achieving that target, but the company says there is still much work to do. The company has recently changed its company car policy to electric/hybrid only and trialling the use of electric vans for use by its field engineers. Ian Robinson, Baxi HS&E and Quality Director, explains: “We’re working towards a sustainable future and the last year represents an important step forward in reducing the emissions from our own business. Even more importantly, we’re driving the energy transition with the aim of providing low carbon heating and hot water to customers across the UK & Ireland.” While there is still work to do, the figures represent an important step in achieving environmental goals. Baxi will report its progress on several other measures in its Sustainability Report. Having recycled nearly 99 per cent of its waste in 2021, Baxi is targeting a 50 per cent reduction in overall waste by 2025. By the same date, the company is aiming to ensure all of its packaging is recyclable, commencing with a pilot to replace difficult to recycle polystyrene packaging, with an alternative made from waste cardboard. Until now, more than 100 tonnes of Polystyrene have been used every year to protect Baxi appliances as they make their journey from the warehouse to the customer. Most goes to landfill, so Baxi’s trial of recycled packaging using cardboard pulp, aims to reduce the amount of packaging that ends up in landfill. Find out more by visiting www.baxiheating.co.uk
Specialist equipment rental group Vp plc formalises its environmental ethos. To help mark Earth Day on April 22nd, global specialist equipment rental group Vp plc has officially launched its Short Term Roadmap to Net Zero by 2050. The roadmap was actually initiated in 2021 and has already marked a number of milestones, including reviewing and modifying data capture procedures for greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water, committing and developing Science-based Targets for all scopes, and implementing actions from a water audit. Vp plc has also already collated group-wide environmental initiatives and promoted its sustainability report to stakeholders, switched to 100% REGO*-backed renewable electricity that has reduced Scope 2 emissions by 70%, and is conducting a comprehensive Scope 3 inventory. Between 2022 and 2023, Vp plc has pledged to optimise its fleet management by introducing PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles) and EVs (electric vehicles) into the fleet where it is appropriate to do so. A behavioural change programme will see green driver training (most divisions have already achieved FORS Gold), travel reduced, the introduction of environmental and waste champions, and environmental toolbox talks. Last year, diversion from landfill stood at 94%, compared to 93% in 2020 and 80% in 2019. ISO 50001 will be achieved by September (2022) at all the group’s UK sites and divisions, although three of the group’s divisions – Brandon Hire Station, MEP Hire and ESS – have already achieved this accreditation. Diesel alternatives will be sourced by exploring the EV market for larger EV fleet options and HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel is available to customers at all branches. To build on its work in 2021, Vp in 2022 is looking to partner with a range of wildlife and rivers trusts around the country with exemplary nature conservation and restoration projects – some reintroducing white tailed eagles, lake sturgeon and bison, others tackling sand dune restoration and community rewilding. They are also pursuing an exciting close partnership with the Wildlife Trusts – the national umbrella organisation. “At home”, it is looking at biodiversity offsets such as the planting of trees and shrubs, installing bird boxes and feeders, and replacing lawns with wildflower meadows. Then between 2023 and 2025, it will support trials and encourage the adoption of hydrogen combustion engines and actively engage its supply chain in their own Net Zero agenda. The group’s sustainability programme manager Fred Pilkington, who has a MSc in Conservation Science, said: “Our roadmap strikes a balance between ambition and realism but what makes it distinguished is we have commitment from the very top of the organisation. Added to that has been the encouragement and motivation we have received from colleagues and suppliers who are putting some real time and effort behind it. We are now grabbing the bull by the horns and shouting about it.” To view a video about Vp plc’s Short Term Roadmap to Net Zero, please go to video link is https://youtu.be/4S-benpf-jo.
Drax, the UK-based power plant, has become the first in the world to capture carbon dioxide from the burning of wood fuel. It has started a demonstration of a new technology that will capture 1 t/day of CO2 from a 100% biomass feedstock. The £400 000 project brings the prospect of a carbon-negative power plant closer to reality, according to Drax. It is the first of several planned bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) projects planned at the site. “Proving that this innovative carbon capture technology works is an exciting development and another important milestone in our BECCS project. Climate change affects us all so this is of real significance – not just for us at Drax, but also for the UK and the rest of the world,” said Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO. “The successful deployment of BECCS requires us to identify ways in which the carbon dioxide we’re now capturing can be stored or used in other processes and we’re working with the government and other businesses on that. We’re focused on working together to make the progress required for us to tackle climate change and enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future,” Will added. The demonstration started by Drax uses a solvent-based technology developed by UK-based C-Capture. The system started being commissioned by engineers in November 2018. The data that is obtained about the CO2 capture process will continue to be analysed throughout the pilot to fully understand the potential of the technology and how it could be scaled up at Drax. Identifying and developing ways to store and use the carbon dioxide being captured is part of it. “Working at this scale is really where the engineering gets interesting. The challenge now is to get all the information we need to design and build a capture plant 10 000 times bigger,” concluded Caspar Schoolderman, Director of Engineering at C-Capture.
