UK water firm announces 50% drop in carbon emissions

Amid a relentless flow of bad environmental reports surrounding the water supply sector, one British company with a green focus is bucking the trend.

Scottish-headquartered Business Stream, the country’s largest non-domestic operator, has managed to half its direct carbon emissions, setting a precedent for others to follow suit.

According to official reports from the company, this is the result of rolling out new measured approaches to sustainability, while ensuring good behaviours that began in lockdown have continued. The impressive numbers build on previous efforts, which achieved a 25% reduction in 2021-2022.

These included the Climate Conscious Travel Policy, alongside an electric vehicle (EVs) salary sacrifice scheme, allowing the 350-strong staff to switch to a plug-in vehicle, and paying for this from their gross income each month. Elsewhere, the business has upgraded its own diesel vehicle fleet to EVs, and investment in new, more energy efficient air conditioning.

In addition to supporting our customers to achieve their sustainability goals, we also have a responsibility to reduce our own environmental impact.

‘Over the past two years we’ve taken proactive steps to significantly lower our carbon emissions – contributing to our goal of achieving net zero by 2030,’ said Jo Dow, Chief Executive of Business Stream. ‘We’re delighted with the progress we’ve made but we also recognise that there’s more to do in order to continue to deliver environmental savings. Work is now underway to identify the additional steps we need to take to reduce our footprint further.’

In addition to its own steps to minimise footprint, with an overall goal of reaching net zero by 2030, Business Stream has also pledged to help its customers bring their consumption down by 20% at a time when waste water is rising up the UK sustainability agenda. Elsewhere, the firm is also involved in a tree-planting programme with a goal of introducing 10,000 trees to Scotland.

More on water and the environment: 

Water pollution events now detectable from space

Legally binding targets announced to cut sewage dumping in rivers

Four new bathing spots for England, worst beaches for water pollution revealed

80% of Britons wasting water each day

Scarcity, waste and misuse on World Water Day: Inside a crisis

Image: Johnny Brown