Stagecoach Group is launching a major drive next week (31 May – 4 June) to help Britain go green, with a week of environmental awareness activities and the chance for people to win a year’s free travel on their local bus network.

The Perth-based transport group will use the week to highlight the environmental benefits of using public transport as well as informing staff and passengers of ways in which Stagecoach is reducing its own carbon footprint.

Since the inaugural Stagecoach Green Week in 2009, the company has made significant strides in its drive to take action on climate change. In March, Stagecoach became the first Scottish-based transport company to be awarded the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard after reducing the carbon intensity of its UK businesses by 5.7%* in the three years to April 30 2009.

And the Group recently launched a new sustainability strategy ‘Revolution in the Way We Travel’ which outlined an £11million green investment programme and set a range of environmental targets for Stagecoach’s bus and rail businesses over the next five years.

This year’s Green Week – which takes place between 31 May and 4 June – is also a chance for Stagecoach to highlight the cost, time and carbon savings that can be achieved through the use of public transport. A recent survey by respected independent transport consultants TAS found that Stagecoach offers significantly lower commuter, leisure and shopping bus fares than the UK’s other major transport groups, with prices up to 30% cheaper.

Launching Green Week 2010, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Brian Souter said: “We want to play our part in helping Britain go green. Going by bus and train can save people time and money - as well as cutting their carbon footprint. We hope Green Week will help highlight the benefits of greener, smarter travel and show what we are doing as a company to make our business more sustainable.”

Throughout Green Week, staff and passengers across all areas of the business are being invited to participate in a number of awareness-raising activities.

For customers across the UK, there will be the chance to win a year’s free travel on their local Stagecoach bus network. Stagecoach staff will also be handing out eco-friendly giveaways at bus stations across the country as well as running poster competitions at a number of schools. Green events will be held at some of the company’s bus and rail operations, and in some areas, a portion of fares for one day will be donated to a local green charity.

Information on green issues will be provided to Stagecoach employees throughout the week as well as advice on ways in which they can reduce their carbon footprint both at work and at home. The company is also searching for the 2010 Stagecoach Green Champion – an employee nominated by his or her colleagues who is felt to be contributing significantly to reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Stagecoach reports annually on its carbon emissions and discloses its global carbon footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project, the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emissions database.

Highlights and achievements to date have included:

  * Cutting annual heating energy consumption at the UK Bus division by around 35% in the past three years following the introduction of a hi-tech energy management system at more than 100 sites in Scotland, England and Wales.
  * Reducing CO2 emissions from the Group’s 7,000-vehicle bus fleet in the UK by more than 100,000 tonnes over the past five years through use of an innovative fuel additive.
  * Achieving ISO14001 accreditation at a number of our UK rail facilities for putting in place processes to control and improve environmental performance.

    Stagecoach Group’s sustainability strategy is focused on:
      o Meeting and exceeding regulatory obligations
      o Investing in more fuel efficient vehicles
      o Using alternative, renewable fuels
      o Training employees in more efficient driving techniques
      o Saving energy at offices and depots
      o Conserving and recycling water
      o Reducing and recycling waste
      o Reducing business travel
      o Providing affordable bus and rail travel

        For further information on Stagecoach Group visit www.stagecoach.com
       
        *TonnesCO2e / £ Turnover