Network Rail says it has reached an important milestone in environmental commitment with suppliers.
Its commercial and procurement team has secured pledges from 50% of its supplier partners to join the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in a drive to reduce their carbon footprint.
The rail infrastructure owner and operator says science based targets are a key part of its Environmental Sustainability Strategy to deliver a cleaner, greener railway. The strategy contains independently verified plans to reduce carbon emissions in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Network Rail was the first railway infrastructure body in the world to adopt science-based targets to this level.
Nearly all of Network Rail’s emissions are within what’s called ‘scope three’ – 97% of its emissions largely come from third parties, including suppliers. To tackle this, Network Rail’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy includes a target for 75% of suppliers to have their own science-based targets by 2025.
The commercial and procurement supplier management team has worked alongside transport industry partners to deliver workshops throughout 2021. These involve showing suppliers how to commit to science-based targets and the benefits of doing so by sharing industry best practice and ideas for cutting carbon.
So far, three workshops have been delivered, with each one being attended by more than 350 people from the transport sector and supply chain.
Roger Maybury, supplier management director, said the workshops have been positive, bringing the industry together to take on climate change. He said: “We’ve had a wonderful response and we’re extremely grateful to our suppliers for showing such positive support for this initiative.
“The success of the science-based targets workshops is reflected in the growing number of suppliers committing to reduce carbon emissions. We have more to do to achieve our goal but we’ve made a strong start with 50% of suppliers already committed to science-based targets by carbon emissions.”
Clive Berrington, group commercial and procurement director, said: “As a country we need to show we are serious about climate change by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels to leave a positive legacy for future generations.
“Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel but we need our suppliers’ help to become an industry powered by renewable energy. It’s great that our supply chain is rising to this challenge and we look forward to more companies signing up in future.”
Read more about previous workshops here.
Image credit: Network Rail
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