GGM Groundscare has taken its dedication to being an eco-friendly organisation to the next level and commit to a drive to improve its green credentials even further.
The Colne-based organisation already boasts an impressive record for environmental awareness and over the lockdown period the business has taken stock and investigated ways to enhance this, undertaking several new measures including investing in renewable energy, reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions and helping improve air quality locally.
The move came after the company completed a full energy and environmental audit and joined the Chamber of Trade’s Green Rose programme and are currently working towards the ISO14001 environmental standard.
Chris Gibson, Managing Director explains: “GGM Groundscare recognise that, as with every organisation, our business activities impact upon our environment in terms of both our routine operations and our development. As a responsible and environmentally aware organisation, we acknowledge that we have a commitment to help protect the environment in every way we can.
“To this end, we’ve undertaken a range of measures to improve our already excellent green credentials. We are committed to ensuring our operations take into account the impact on the environment by reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and to incorporate long-term strategies for efficiency into our Environmental and Sustainability policy planning and development, with the goal of achieving ISO14001 Certification on the pathway ultimately to carbon neutrality.”
The new drive includes the addition of two new electric vans to the GGM fleet and will replace the existing vehicle fleet where relevant and suitable with electric vehicles which will be used for supporting service and hire customers across the region, calculated to save 30 tonnes of carbon in the first year, reducing the carbon footprint as well as improving air quality in the local community. In addition, the business has installed electric vehicle charging units which are offered to customers and suppliers free of charge.
The business has invested in Solar Photovoltaics Technology (Solar PV Panels) with the support of the Chamber’s Low Carbon grant programme which will improve energy and environmental efficiencies. Clean, sustainable and renewable, investing in solar energy allows the company to dramatically reduce its CO2 emissions whilst also reducing costs and assisting them in meeting environmental and sustainability targets. In addition, GGM decided that the company would benefit from upgrading the current lighting system, which would lower energy consumption and additionally install lighting controls to further reduce excess energy consumption by using motion / light sensors and timing controls, along with LED lighting.
The business has also undertaken several additional green initiatives which will have a positive impact on employee’s health and wellbeing, as well as the environment. At Colne, showers and a secure bike rack are being installed with the support of Lancashire County Council’s Connecting East Lancashire initiative this will encourage take up of the company cycle to work scheme, and at Haydock a wild flower oasis has been created to encourage biodiversity and provide an area for the team to take a break and help maintain good mental health.
Chris Gibson concluded: “GGM are proactively investing in Greener initiatives to minimise our Carbon Footprint and demonstrate to our customers, suppliers, employees and the local community that we care about the local environment.
“We’re proud of the progress that we have made so far and we will constantly strive to improve in every way we can.”