G4S recognises that its business activities have both a direct and indirect impact on the natural environment and is committed to managing these impacts in a responsible manner
Environmental Policy
The G4S environmental policy outlines the key commitments from G4S to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.
Environmental Regulations & Legislation
We will comply with all relevant legislation, commercial requirements and codes of conduct regarding the impact of our business on the environment.
Operations & Business Practices
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we will continually review our impact on the environment and introduce business processes to reduce our carbon footprint and actively target carbon output reductions
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we will systematically measure the carbon footprint of the group
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we will establish performance indicators which will enable us to set targets and track our progress
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we will implement processes for reducing carbon emissions across the organisation including areas such as:
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fuel consumption
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energy consumption
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water usage
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we will make use of environmentally-friendly products wherever possible
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we will seek to reduce waste and recycle materials where possible and where the means to recycle materials exist
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we will seek to use modern communications techniques to reduce the need for air travel
Awareness & Communication Communicating with key stakeholder groups will be a key element of our Climate Action Programme. It will ensure that everyone is aware of their role in contributing to protecting and preserving the environment in which we live and work and it will enable us to implement carbon reduction initiatives successfully.
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we will encourage and enable staff to make a positive contribution to improving the environment
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we will engage with our customers and suppliers on environmental initiatives
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we will communicate the progress of the Climate Action Programme to all of our stakeholders in a open and transparent manner
Governance G4S has established a Climate Action Board which is chaired by Richard Hawkins, Group Security Director. The Climate Action Board meets monthly to review progress of the Climate Action Programme and to drive the implementation of key elements of the programme.
The Climate Action Board reports directly to the group chief executive and provides a written progress update to the group management board on a quarterly basis.
Environmental co-ordinators have been appointed from across the group’s operations to measure the group-wide carbon footprint and to implement operational measures to reduce carbon emissions. The environmental co-ordinators report directly to the Climate Action Board.
In 2008, G4S began its Climate Action Programme by measuring our 2007 carbon footprint globally across the organisation. Focusing initially on a representative sample of the group – our G4S cash solutions businesses and our seven largest secure solutions businesses (our so-called “trailblazers”), we determined that during 2007 these G4S operations emitted approximately 203,000 tonnes of CO2e into the atmosphere. Of this, 96,000 tonnes related to our cash solutions businessess for which we have previously reported carbon emissions in 2008.
The 2007 carbon footprint exercise was conducted largely as a test of our ability to identify and accurately measure our carbon emissions in a limited number of businesses.
This enabled us to ensure that we used reliable measurement systems for our 2008 group-wide analysis.
Secure Solutions:Malaysia, India, Netherlands, South Africa, Greece, UK, USA
G4S Carbon Footprint 2008
With the completion of our 2007 “trailblazer” carbon footprint we were determined to obtain a more complete and detailed picture of our carbon emissions in 2008.
In partnership with a leading environmental consultancy, and using WBCSD and WRI GHG protocols, we undertook a measurement of our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions (G4S occupied buildings over which we have operational control, our vehicle fleet, and employee business air travel).
The businesses measured by our 2008 carbon footprint analysis represent 503,000 employees and approximately 22,000 vehicles across 37 countries worldwide – approximately 82% of the group’s operations.
Due to the operational challenges of measuring businesses either acquired or undergoing integration during the period, these operations were excluded from the measurement of our 2008 carbon footprint. For 2008 G4S Care & Justice Services is therefore excluded, but it will complete its carbon footprint analysis in 2009.
The G4S 2008 estimated carbon footprint equates to some 450,000 tonnes of CO2e. Through operational year on year growth we expect that our direct carbon footprint will grow proportionately. Therefore we have established a G4S average measurement of 90 tonnes CO2e per £1m of revenue.
Notes:
CO2e = Carbon dioxide or equivalent
WBCSD = World Business Council for Sustainable Development
WRI GHG = World Resources Institute Green House Gas
2008 coverage included:
Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, G4SI, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Malaysia, Poland, Romania, Saudi, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK, USA
We are implementing a number of initiatives designed to reduce our impact on the environment
Case Study: Reducing Vehicle Emissions
A major contributing factor in G4S’s carbon footprint is the CO2 emissions from our vehicle fleet. As part of our Climate Action Programme, we have implemented a number of initiatives to reduce vehicle emissions.
During 2008, G4S Finland piloted Sensior, a driving usage and behaviour-monitoring system at one of its major branches. The pilot aimed to improve control over driving behaviour, lowering fuel consumption and decreasing the number of vehicle accidents.
Vehicles equipped with the Sensior system are monitored in real time and the system allows management to assess and review their staff’s driving standards – praising good behaviour and redressing bad driving. The introduction of Sensior enabled G4S Finland to reduce its fuel consumption by 8.5% during 2008 and achieve a reduction of 27% in the number of at-fault vehicle accidents.
G4S Belgium, has implemented a new company car policy, capping the CO2 emissions to a maximum of 175g/km and introducing financial incentives of up to €750 to encourage employees to select vehicles with lower CO2 emission values, further promoting our Climate Action Programme and persuading our employees to ‘go green’.
The new policy in Belgium has been one of several campaigns adopted by the group to promote environmental awareness, including the benefits and simple techniques of eco-driving, among our employees. Through posters, magazine articles, and attention grabbing competitions, G4S has attempted to focus the minds of its employees to think about climate action and reducing their carbon emissions both at work and at home.
We recognise that a major factor in our carbon footprint comes from our vehicle fleet, due in part to the large and heavier cash transportation vehicles which make up around 60% of our total fleet. Therefore, it is here that we are directing many of our programmes to reduce carbon emissions; from eco-driving training for our operational vehicle and company car drivers, and a project to monitor via satellite driver behaviour in Finland, to exploring alternative fuel sources such as a gas (GNC/GNV) powered vehicle fleet in G4S Bolivia, and Accuread’s low emission vehicle fleet in the UK.
Over 20% of our carbon footprint is generated by energy and fuel usage at our buildings and offices. A number of programmes are underway across the globe to tackle our energy efficiency in these areas such as:
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employee awareness programmes such as “The Big Think” encouraging employees to think about their impact on the environment and the actions they can take to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions
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energy reduction measures such as installing smart meters, replacing old style light bulbs with more efficient designs, and changes in air conditioning and heating patterns
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reducing wastage, and wherever possible, increasing recycling
Over the course of 2009/10 the Climate Action Programme network of environmental co-ordinators will be identifying and implementing further opportunities for reducing our carbon emissions and sharing best practice wherever applicable.
G4S Carbon Footprint by Source (2008)
G4S CARBON FOOTPRINT BY SERVICE LINE (2008)
Case Study: UK Recycling Project
At the beginning of 2008, G4S Cash Solutions UK recycled just 6% of its waste, which was not
in line with the commitments set out by the UK CSR and Environment Policy. With over 50 properties throughout the UK, it was a huge challenge to rapidly improve waste management.
A recycling initiative was overseen by the full time CSR Co-ordinator and delivered by CSR Champions at each of G4S Cash Solutions UK’s properties.
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A new waste contractor was sought who was able to recycle all key waste streams
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Introduced colour coded recycling bins throughout the estate
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Ran an extensive awareness campaign with articles in the employee magazine, presentations on the in-house TV system, as well as posters to encourage waste reduction and recycling
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Provided monthly management information, including league tables and a breakdown of performance across all properties
G4S Cash Solutions UK has increased its recycling rate to 24% by December 2008, which helped divert 41 tonnes of waste from landfill in that month alone.
G4S looks to significantly reduce the amount of waste it produces and increase the amount it recycles through 2009 and beyond.
