M Group Services, the leading service provider to essential infrastructure in the UK, is marking Net-Zero Week by reflecting on its positive progress towards halving its carbon emissions by 2030 and becoming net-zero by 2050.
The Group has been forging ahead on its commitment to the environment and operating in the most effective and sustainable ways. The positive changes the Group has made were recognised earlier this year, when it received a top public ESG rating from independent, international rating agency, Sustainalytics.
M Group Services pledged to support efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C and cut carbon emissions by signing a letter of intent to cut down on carbon emissions in support of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in March.
The Group also committed to joining the UN Global Compact in April, becoming part of the world’s largest sustainability initiative, which will ensure 10 principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption are part of business strategy, culture and day-to-day operations.
M Group Services is leading the way with its approach to environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk management. The Sustainalytics ESG risk rating of 9.6 makes the Group a leader in the business services support sector, compared to a sector average of 21.9. It also places the Group in the top one per cent of global companies for its commitment to the environment and sustainability, managing the impact on and support for local communities and its commitment to established policies and procedures, with a ‘negligible risk’ of reputational and operational risks through its direct and indirect suppliers.
Jim Arnold, M Group Services’ Chief Executive, said: “Supporting a sustainable future and the UK’s target to achieve net-zero by 2050 is fundamental for M Group Services. I am proud of the progress we are continuing to make across all our divisions and operating businesses towards achieving our net-zero aspirations and those of our clients.
“It is more crucial than ever we fulfil our commitments to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the United National Global Compact by achieving our own net-zero target.”
Recent net-zero progress includes:
- A PPE recycling scheme that enables every Group operating business to sustainably dispose of the more than 200,000 items of PPE used each year. Covering all types of PPE, it will be recycled into car roof insulation, panel linings and compressed mattress fillings.
- M Group Services Plant & Fleet Solutions has recently completed a three-month carbon-reduction roadshow visiting nine venues nationwide and demonstrating a range of electric and battery-powered equipment available to use on site, including the fully electric Vauxhall Vivaro, electric 109te mini excavator, battery-powered rammer, cut off saws, hammer drills, battery-powered LED light towers and groundhog units. Some of our clients joined people from our operating businesses to find out about the positive changes the business is implementing.
- The Micheldever Road materials Recycling Facility is a partnership between Milestone Infrastructure and Hampshire County Council providing a sustainable solution to decarbonise highways. In the first full year, the facility is predicted to recycle 35,000t of construction waste into Industry Highway Standard materials and save 665t CO2e. Read more about the facility from Milestone’s Head of Sustainability, Ed Godsiffe, here.
- Dyer & Butler, is moving away from non-renewable petrol-power and towards battery-powered tools, having successfully conducted a fossil fuel-free project. When urgent work was needed to clear a rockfall away from a railway line, the Wales minor team used battery-powered tools to remove excess vegetation from a steep rock cutting. Following the success of the trial, the Dyer & Butler team is adopting these battery-powered tools going forward.
- Morrison Energy Services entered a framework agreement in May with electric vehicle (EV) charging provider Be.EV to help deliver more than 1,000 chargers and four big charging hubs across the North of England.
- PMP Utilities recently used its expertise in confined space engineering to design a bespoke solution and install new hydraulically actuated valves on the Glasgow Sludge Line. This solution will cut operational costs, reduce health and safety risks to operatives and improve durability of the pipeline for Scottish Water (SW). The company dries and pelletises sludge into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for incineration to produce electricity for the country.
- Avonline Networks announced the success of an innovative workplace app in March. The app, which provides a real-time flow of communication between engineers and office-based staff on the progress of works, has reduced delays for our people, increased customer satisfaction and reduced return visits, resulting in less vehicle miles on the road therefore saving on CO2 emissions.
These are just a few of the initiatives happening across M Group Services. Find out more about what steps we’re taking to achieve net-zero here.
