The Environment

Speedy Hire Plc is the UK's leading tool and equipment hire company. We employ 4500 people and serve more than 100,000 customers including most of the UK's major construction companies.

As you would expect, we take our corporate responsibilities extremely seriously and are proud to have been voted No1 for ethics in the Observer 'Good Company Guide' in 2007 and for the clarity of our corporate communications. The environment is a key part of our CR strategy. Our formal environment policy statement appears opposite, but our approach to reducing our environmental impact is summarised below. Construction is one of the UK's biggest generators of waste and a major user of energy and natural resources. The industry is doing much to deal with environmental impact and we are keen to do our bit and help our customers achieve there own environmental goals.

'Our goal is that our construction industry should be a world beater, training a skilled and committed workforce, and a world leader in environmental responsibility' Extract from the Draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction - Consultation Paper - July 2007

What we are doing

Three of our businesses, Speedy Survey, Speedy Pumps, Speedy Generators already conform to ISO 14001 and plans are in place to ensure that all Speedy companies achieve this by 2010. In the development of a company wide Environmental Management System we have worked with a number of specialist consultants including Rural Planning Services Plc, Envirowise, The Carbon Trust, Energy Trust, Energis and Scottish Green Energy. Together we have developed a plan under the theme of 'Getting Greener from the Ground Up'. It involves a two pronged approach.

Internal

It is important to first get our own house in order and this involves monitoring, benchmarking, goal setting and communication across each of our 450 depots and offices. This will guide us in our efforts to reduce waste and energy consumption, understand and reduce our 'carbon footprint' through effective transport planning and green energy sources. We were the first hire company to introduce electric delivery vehicles in London and we are investigating the sourcing of other 'green' delivery vehicles on a national basis. We are also working with our supply chain to identify and develop more environmentally friendly products from 'green' cabins to energy efficient lighting products and 'Biofuel' generators. We are also investigating methods of assessing the green credentials of individual products for labels and 'whole life' product cycles.

External

We are extending our award winning Safety from the Ground Up campaign with the development of an external communication programme Getting Greener from the Ground Up, aimed initially at construction site workers. It's designed to increase awareness and understanding of the big issues that construction faces; waste and resource management, energy efficiency and pollution. It gives the facts and offers guidance on good working practice. Eye catching posters, brochures and toolbox presenters invite site operatives to 'make a world of difference'. This material will soon be available to customers free of charge.

Environmental Policy Statement

The company will:

  • comply with the relevant requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and all other legislation concerned with the protection of the human and natural resources.
  • minimise the risk to the public at large from any acts or omissions during its operation.
  • minimise emissions of noise, air pollution and waste products.
  • ensure all employees have suitable and sufficient information, instructions, training and supervision to act with due consideration for the environment.
  • require all contractors working on its behalf to meet with the equal standard of care for the environment.
  • liaise with the local authority on new projects.
  • continually monitor the environmental impact of its operations.