Public transport is key to the future of our communities. As well as making a major contribution to social inclusion and the quality of life in our towns and cities, bus, coach, rail and tram services are an important part of the solution to the global challenge of climate change.
Individually and collectively, in our private and our business lives, we all need to examine the impact our carbon footprint has on the planet we entrust to future generations.
Recent Government studies, including the Stern Review and the Eddington Report, have made clear that emissions from transport are growing and that significant economic and social benefits can be delivered from more environmentally sustainable ways of living.
Buses and trains are five times more energy efficient than cars and produce significantly less emissions per passenger journey. However, Stagecoach is acutely aware that any form of transport has an impact on the environment. That is why we are committed to making our own business as environmentally-friendly as possible.
We have published a Group Environmental Policy that sets out our commitment to good environmental stewardship and for a number of years we have put in place stretching targets to reduce emissions, cut water and energy consumption, minimise waste and identify opportunities for recycling.
By focusing on technological innovation - such as trials of cleaner fuels – improved environmental management and training, and continued investment in our products and services, we have made further progress this year.
More than ever, we believe we also need to promote the environmental superiority of public transport over other forms of travel, particularly cars and airlines. We fully support Government measures designed to reward intelligent car use and encourage modal shift from car to public transport.
Stagecoach and its businesses are also committed to marketing the positive environmental credentials of our products and services. We believe making it easier and cheaper to access public transport is also critical in attracting people out of their cars.
Despite the huge progress and investment we have made in the area of environmental sustainability, we realise that this is only a start and we have a long way to go.
View our full Environmental Policy (PDF, 1.26MB, opens in a new window).
