We will all be doing it soon enough – chasing every opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint. Volvo Trucks have launched an awards initiative to celebrate those dealerships at the forefront of grasping the sustainability nettle early.
So, the inaugural Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland Sustainability Award was bestowed upon Midlands-based Hartshorne Group for its commitment to the environment.
Lots of Small Steps
During the last 12 months the dealer has announced plans to replace its Walsall depot with a new £7.5m energy efficient facility on the same site, which will be equipped with the infrastructure to service fleets of heavy-duty electric trucks.
It has also placed a £1.2m order to upgrade its company car fleet to Volvo hybrid vehicles, resulting in an estimated annual saving of more than 100 tonnes of CO2.
Focus on Customer Fuel Reduction
Other initiatives by the dealership include investing in a dedicated Fuel Solutions Manager to proactively work with customers to ensure they are achieving the maximum efficiency from every new vehicle delivered into service. Plus, it has moved to paperless offices wherever possible and is achieving a near zero-to-landfill policy, whilst an LED lighting project across the group has reduced energy consumption in all offices and workshops.
Christian Coolsaet, Managing Director of Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland, says: “We believe in a sustainable future for the transport industry, and our trucks, services and operations must continue to lead the way there. Across the Hartshorne Group they are taking great strides to both reduce their own environmental impact, and to support customers in doing the same. This award win is justly deserved.”
Commenting on the achievement, Ian Middleton, Managing Director of Hartshorne Group, says: “Winning this award reflects the fact that sustainability is front-of-mind within our business every day. Reducing our own carbon footprint is as important as offering customers access to vehicles and services which will help them to do the same. The two go hand-in-hand; at every level we are focused on offering cleaner, safer and more circular solutions.”
Keeping Fit
In October Hartshorne Group launched its ‘Healthy Heart’ campaign to promote environmentally friendly activities such as walking and cycling to work. The company has pledged to donate £1 towards community-based defibrillators for every hour of physical exercise its staff track via an app.
Hartshorne Group operates from seven depots, in Alfreton, Birmingham, Burton, Nottingham, Potteries, Shrewsbury and Walsall.
This new award will be presented annually by Volvo Trucks UK & Ireland to the dealer that has demonstrated the most progress in the pursuit of improved sustainability.