Green Zone:

GAP’s plan of action

Besides promoting environmental awareness amongst its customers, GAP’s new campaign focuses on green issues throughout its own operation.

GAP’s green credentials were obvious to visitors as soon as they entered the SED site. The company sponsored the plastic bags containing the show guide, with a message informing people that they could swap them on the GAP stand for a recycled cotton one. The hirer also ensured that the plastic bag would be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

The initiative highlighted GAP’s new environmental campaign, a prominent theme on its stand. Its Green Action Plan (which can be abbreviated, appropriately, to GAP) is impressively thorough in terms of the measures the business is implementing internally throughout its national operation, as well as its focus on adding more green equipment to meet customer needs.

“In many ways the Plan is also a logical extension of our gradual shift from being price-driven towards offering best value for money for customers and lower costs of ownership,” said Group Procurement Manager, Ken Stewart. “We need to understand what our customers require and certainly more of them include references to green criteria in their tender documents. They rightly want to know what we, and our supply chain, are doing to address environmental issues.”

GAP pro-actively asked the Carbon Trust to carry out energy surveys at its Glasgow head office and at its Motherwell, Swansea, Leeds and Heathrow depots. These identified improvements such as installing movement sensitive lighting and heat recycling fans. These and other recommendations are now being introduced throughout the 58-depot network.

Workshop washdown bays are being fitted with oil interceptors and water recycling facilities. Oils, filters, batteries, tyres and dumper tracks are also collected for recycling. LPG powered delivery vehicles that emit less carbon dioxide and noise are in use at GAP’s London depots, while electric vehicles are planned for introduction soon. Branches will have facilities for recycling paper, cans, plastics and printer cartridges, and the head office has a fleet of bicycles for staff to commute in an emission-free way.

The GAP fleet also reflects greater environmental awareness. “For some years there has been a trend away from diesel powered traffic lights, for example, towards battery driven versions to address noise and environmental issues,” says Ken Stewart. “At SED, we showed Pike Signals’ new hybrid Tandem Duo unit combining battery power and a bio-diesel compliant engine. Other green equipment on display included Sullair compressors with bunded bases that can contain 120% of the fluids in the machine to prevent spillage. Their plastic canopies resist damage and mean less metal is used in production, saving valuable resources. Our display also included Kubota mini excavators that accept bio-hydraulic fuels, and low-noise breaker attachments.

“We are throwing down the gauntlet to suppliers to develop products addressing green issues. We hold monthly product meetings to discuss possible fleet additions, and environmental considerations are an increasingly important factor in reaching decisions.” This is another example of how hirers are driving product innovation and green awareness.

The Green Action Plan was launched to GAP staff during its annual national conference at Crewe last month, and the company says it was enthusiastically received. The hirer is also taking measures to implement the rigorous ISO 14001 environmental management standard throughout its operation, and expects to achieve this accreditation within 12 months.

“All of us are becoming more environmentally aware in our daily lives, such as by recycling household rubbish and using low-energy light bulbs, and through the Green Action Plan we are extending this concept throughout the whole GAP operation,” says Ken Stewart. “If we each play our part, we will achieve long-term, sustainable improvements that benefit every one of us.” •

W www.gap-group.co.uk

Executive Hire News › Archives › June 2008 › Green Zone › GAP’s plan of action

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