Net Zero 64

identified large numbers of vans that meet a set criteria for operational teams to transition to electric vehicles. We will now be working even closer with these teams once the new vans have been deployed to help us identify any additional challenges other operational teams are facing. This analysis will enable us to create our next EV plan enhancing our transition as we expand the fleet further.”

In order to operate electric vehicles Anglian Water has installed additional electric charging points across a number of their sites enabling both the company and its employees to recharge their electric vehicles on-site.

“As one of the largest energy users in the East, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to minimise our impact on the environment and growing our electric vehicle fleet is a great step for us in doing so.

“Increasing our fleet of electric vehicles provides us with the opportunity to utilise more renewable and sustainable technology, helping to make a positive impact on our region’s environment, and reach the industry’s ambition to reach net zero by 2030.”

Bott Ltd Manging Director, Kevin Woodward said: “Bott recognise the ever-growing demand for electric and alternative fuel vehicles, providing both financial efficiencies and environmental benefits. We are delighted to have been involved in this latest EV project for Anglian Water. With a mutual, strong commitment to the EV development, we pride ourselves on our ability to understand the specific needs of our customers and have developed a conversion which matches the base vehicle capability and the requirements of Anglian Water.

“One particular difference from an ICE variant vehicle to an EV, is that the electrical power available for the necessary tools and equipment a utility user needs to perform their job role, is potentially reduced. This means we have to look to alternative methods of control and optimisation, to reduce the impact of electrical accessories on vehicle performance and range.

“With our own investigations, and working closely with Vauxhall, we have built in a combination of manual and automatic regulation of the auxiliary electrical system. This keeps the user working effectively without exceeding any manufacturerrecommended limits.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership and helping Anglian Water get a step closer, towards their commitment to be net zero carbon.”

Anglian exceeded its 2020 carbon goals and drove down capital carbon by 61% and operational carbon by 34%, with the company on track to reach, and help others to reach, net zero by 2030.

As one of the largest energy users in the East, it’s our responsibility to do all we can to minimise our impact on the environment and growing our electric vehicle fleet is a great step for us in doing so.

ANGLIAN WATER

anglianwater.co.uk

ENVIRONMENTAL R&D AND INNOVATION CENTRE LAUNCHED IN BRIGHTON

A new research, development and innovation centre has been set up at Plus X Brighton by regional highways construction leader Roadways.

ROAD-WAYS

road-ways.co.uk The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Coun. Alan Robins, declared the centre officially open at the beginning of July.

Roadways’ chief executive James Bailey said it would take the company’s innovative environmental work to the next level, while helping it to scale up.

“Not many people know that the concrete carried in a single drum mixer truck typically involves as much CO₂ as driving 17,000 kilometres by car,” he said. “That’s halfway around the planet.

“Some construction professionals and much of the wider public are simply not aware how the carbon footprint of concrete and other construction materials can be significantly greater than other everyday items.

“As a result they are unlikely to consider it a priority to cut down on concrete consumption. Do you think about the effects of adding a concrete base to your shed? It’s little things like that which all add up. “

If people thought that way, rather than simply focusing on the headline stories about flying, low energy lightbulbs or electric cars, it would make a huge difference in the fight against global warming.

He added: “Just 10 wheelbarrows of concrete has the same carbon footprint as a flight from London to Madrid. Looking at it another way: it would take a football stadium full of mature trees two years to absorb the CO₂ of that single concrete mixer truck.”

Roadways’ objectives for its Brighton research, development and innovation centre are to:

raise awareness of the carbon and wider ethical impact of construction materials.

help specifiers and end users embrace the idea of a built environment with lower levels of these problematic materials.

enable anyone interested to find better solutions.

research, develop, launch and grow Roadways’ own low carbon materials and solutions business. If successful, this will help the company’s own concrete supply service (and other independent concrete producers) to cut their carbon footprint in half.

identify, develop and launch digital construction technologies, improving the safety, quality and productivity of contracting works.

promote Roadways’ highways contracting, civil engineering and asphalt surfacing services.

The company knows what is possible, because it has already developed and launched cold asphalt, which

reduces related carbon production by 40%, and the concrete it uses under roads (called hydraulically bound materials or HBM) saves 70%. For each lorry load, that was a CO₂ saving equivalent to driving 3,500 kilometres by car.

James, who previously led corporate innovation and venturing teams at BT, said: “We are actively looking to collaborate with civil and structural engineers, architects and anyone with an interest in the industry who has the same ethical and environmentally-focused goals as ourselves.

“I’ve seen the amazing things that can be achieved when start-ups, corporate innovators and established SMEs like Roadways get together.

“Plus X provides the ideal environment for us to achieve our objectives - I’m really excited about the talent pool and business opportunities that Brighton offers”.

He said the team was delighted to have been accepted into the Brighton Research, Innovation and Technology Exchange (BRITE) programme, which had been made possible by a partnership between Plus X Brighton and the University of Brighton and funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

Samantha Harland, BRITE programme manager at Plus X, said: “The past year has presented new challenges for lots of industries, so it is great to see businesses like Roadways continue to adapt, grow and innovate, especially in the area of sustainability.

“Plus X Brighton champions innovation and invention. Our seven-storey innovation hub provides unique support to pioneers in the sustainable economy, and we are proud to have Roadways as part of the BRITE cohort.

“Roadways will be able to access a variety of programmes designed by Plus X and the University of Brighton including business coaching, circular innovation strategy and access to our state-of-theart workshop to build and test new eco materials and solutions.”

The initial focus of the R&D and innovation centre will be to build an expert team to look at the answers to these questions:

1. Why are awareness levels of the carbon footprint of construction materials in the industry (and among the general public) so low? What’s the most effective way to raise awareness? Who can help to achieve this?

2. What are the best alternatives to help people avoid the use of concrete? For example:

3. Building an extension, garden office or shed on paving slabs or innovative corkscrew piles rather than a concrete base or trench foundation.

4. Using timber rather than concrete for path edgings. 5. In the Brighton area, how widely available are low carbon concretes like British Standard CEM

III A mixes? These offer an easy way to achieve a 50% CO₂ saving.

6. What is the take up of low carbon concrete like

CEM III A? What can be done to increase take up? This offers an easy way to achieve a 50%

CO₂ saving.

7. Why is there currently no supply available of pre-blended low-carbon cement CEM III A to independent concrete producers in the UK? This offers an easy way to achieve a 50% CO₂ saving.

8. Today, Brighton’s concrete is made using 100% primary aggregates dredged from the sea.

What is the environmental impact of this?

Can recycled aggregates from the local circular economy be used instead?

9. Why is low-carbon cold asphalt made from locally sourced recycled aggregates (40% CO₂ saving) not used in Brighton at the moment? It meets all the relevant Highways specifications.

What can be done to change this?

DARK FARM HOPS

darkfarm.co.uk

@darkfarmhops

UK’S FIRST HYDROPONIC HOP FARM RELOCATES TO MID WALES

Since the craft beer boom, the demand for hops has exploded. At one point, the average homebrewer was faced with a limited choice of hops as craft and commercial breweries were first in line to claim the pick of the lot. One beer lover decided to do something about it. But not in the way you would expect. Traditionally, hops are grown in fields, taking up vast areas of land. Gareth Davies, Founder and Director of Dark Farm grows his hops in pots, indoors, using hydroponic growing methods - normally used for crops like salad leaves and herbs rather than a plant that can reach 7.5 m (25ft) in height.

Believed to be first indoor hop yard in whole UK, Dark Farm offers a quarterly hop subscription to homebrewers, and have recently relocated to a disused warehouse near Lampeter in mid Wales. They are out to prove that the benefits of hydroponics can revolutionise hop farming. ‘Growing hops in a controlled environment and adjusting the nutrient feed according to their growing cycle saves a great deal of water,’ says Davies. ‘Growing indoors also protects the hops from pests and diseases. We don’t use any pesticides or fungicides on our hops. And the feed we give them is organic.’ Dark Farm currently have around 400 hop plants, made up of 12 different varieties.

Being able to regulate the hops’ water supply is a great advantage during these times when we’re going from prolonged dry spells to extremely rainy periods. Growing hops this way has being successfully done in the US for several years, and it’s estimated that this method of growing can produce the same yield using one tenth of the area, compared to traditional methods.

Davies, whose background is in web development rather than farming, launched his business in Devon in 2017. Now Davies and his wife, who grew up in Carmarthenshire, have returned to Wales to continue their journey and build on their experience. ‘Homebrewing is becoming more and more popular, especially since lockdown,’ says Davies, ‘We’ve been having to supplement our hop subscription service with hops grown on other farms to keep up with demand. Our vision is to supply our members with hops grown entirely on our indoor farm - apart from certain varieties which we can’t produce ourselves.’

As well as hops, Dark Farm sell homebrewing equipment. They also publish the homebrewing magazine, MASHED!, providing part-time employment for Davies’ wife, Yohanna, a writer and graphic designer. Gareth has a clear vision of further expanding operations to provide employment for more local people, as well as acting as a hub to inspire other rural and urban enterprises to embrace sustainability alongside community and business.

BIFFA UNLOCKS £1BN IN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

In its inaugural sustainability report, Biffa has confirmed today that it has already unlocked £1bn worth of investment in vital UK green infrastructure, well ahead of its targets.

The update comes as the business publishes its first sustainability report following the launch of its sustainability strategy ‘Resourceful, Responsible” in March 2020.

Biffa has accelerated its investment plans over the course of the last year, focusing on four key areas – Reduce, Recycle, Recover and Collect, aligned to the waste hierarchy. The Group has an overall ambition to unlock £1.25bn investment by 2030.

The report shows the company has made further progress against ambitious targets despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the investment programme the Group has doubled its plastics recycling capacity this year to more than 120,000 tonnes at its state-of-the-art facilities in the North East as well as establishing an industry leading position in waste reduction through the acquisition of Company Shop Group and making further acquisitions to expand its low carbon collections service.

Biffa has also announced further progress against its commitment to reduce emissions, outlining a roadmap to reach net zero no later than 2050. Since 2002 Biffa has reduced its CO2 emissions by 70% and is targeting a further 50% reduction by 2030.

Michael Topham, CEO of Biffa, said: “We have accelerated our sustainability programme despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, with meaningful delivery across a range of areas.

“The waste industry plays a critical role in shaping a better future for our communities and the environment. As part of our commitment to delivering on our ambitious plans Biffa has committed to unlocking £1.25bn investment in vital UK green infrastructure and I’m delighted to have already realised £1bn of that commitment, well ahead of plan.

“Biffa has a defining and important role to play in delivering more sustainable solutions to help combat the UK’s waste challenge. I’m proud of this progress but we cannot be complacent and remain fully focussed on strengthening our commitment to delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society.” The three pillars of Biffa’s sustainability strategy are: Building a circular economy, Tackling climate change, and Caring for our people, supporting our communities.

Key highlights since March 2021 include:

Building a circular economy

The Group’s plastics recycling capacity has been doubled with investments in facilities in the

North East.

It entered the world of UK surplus redistribution through our acquisition of Company Shop Group.

Tackling climate change

It is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. Since its peak emissions in 2002, it has reduced emissions by 70%. Its ultimate target is net zero by no later than 2050.

Biffa’s programme of acquisitions, including Ward and Simply Waste, has helped to improve collection efficiencies and route densities, significantly reducing CO2 emissions per tonne of waste collected.

Through the expansion of its rail network, thousands of truck journeys have been taken off the road.

Caring for our people, supporting our communities

Since 2019, almost £14m of Landfill Tax receipts has been distributed by the Biffa Award fund to local community projects, which have included important biodiversity initiatives.

It has boosted its employee engagement score to 59% (3% above UK average) and continued with its successful Diversity and Inclusion programme.

BIFFA

biffa.co.uk

BIKING BRITS HIT THE ROAD FOR A STAYCATION SUMMER

Research finds over 12m bikes expected to be on the roads with many first-time riders and 80% of them without insurance.

Key stats:

Two fifths of Brits (39%) are planning a summer staycation this year with 44% taking or hiring a bike

Expected to be 12.4 million bikes being used on staycations across the UK

Nearly a quarter (25%) have not done so on a staycation before - 31% of children and 35% of partners

Almost half (49%) have not taken out any insurance with only 18% having bike insurance in place

Lake District will be the most popular destination for cycling staycationers - 15% heading there

Britain will experience a biking boom this summer as millions of families turn to staycations for their summer holidays. That’s according to research released from cycleGuard, part of Thistle Insurance.

The research, conducted by Opinium last week, found that two fifths of Brits (39%) are planning a summer staycation this year, with this rising to almost half of those aged 18-34 (47%). Of those planning a trip, almost half (44%) said that they or someone in their party will be taking or hiring a bike whilst on the trip, most notably their partners (28%) or children (15%). With this in mind, there are planned to be 12.4 million bikes being used on staycations across the UK this summer, with those cycling using, on average two bikes per trip.

“This is going to be the summer holiday of cycling” said Alex Bennett, Director of Thistle Insurance, “With the weather finally turning, schools about to break-up and families desperate to get a break there is no doubt we’re about to see far more bikes around and for all the fun and fitness this will, unfortunately, bring with it an increase in damage, accidents and theft as a result.”

For many, it will be their first time using a bike whilst on staycation. According to the research, 23% of those planning to cycle themselves have not done so on staycation before. This figure increases to 31% of children cycling for the first time and further still for first-time partners (35%).

Despite this marked increase in bikes on the road, holidaymakers are not going to take out any additional or specialist insurance. The research found that almost half (49%) of those on staycation will not take out insurance. This figure rises to almost two thirds of those aged 55+ (64%). According to the data, 25% of those planning on cycling will rely on health insurance with less than a fifth (18%) having bike insurance in place.

Bennett concluded, “Given we’re going to see many more cyclists on the road - many of them children and first-time riders, the lack of appropriate insurance is worrying. Many policies might cover injury, accident or bike theft so this is something we would urge holiday makers to reconsider to avoid a potential expensive and unwanted surprise at the end of their trip.”

The Lake District is expected to see the most amount of cycling staycationers with 15% holiday makers heading there. This was followed by Wales and Cornwall (both 14%).