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EDF Energy 2010
Organisational challenge/context
EDF Energy has adopted green travel plans at its contact centre sites in Hove, Worthing, Exeter, Plymouth and Sunderland. The main objective of the scheme was to reduce traffic congestion and to support the delivery of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions from our transport by 20% by 2012. The congestion created problems for the business, but also for the local community and the road network in general.
The green travel plan was adopted in order to reduce the impact commuting had on the environment and staff well being and to reduce the number of travellers.
Interventions
EDF Energy has a large car share database, with nearly 1400 employees signed up across the five locations. Employees are encouraged to use lift share through a number of engagement means, including dedicated lift share boards, intranet pages as well as lift share guidelines.
Cycling and walking to work are also encouraged and employees are offered season bus ticket loans and interest free loans for cycles are provided.
EDF Energy also provides the opportunity of flexible working and encourages teleconferencing and videoconferencing wherever possible. All travel within the company must be approved by line managers who actively encourage employees to think sustainably if they have to travel.
Results/benefits
Thanks to the scheme, around 1385 employees now car share across the five sites, while others benefit from interest free loans for bus season tickets provided by the company.
EDF Energy was also one of only two companies to win a Gold Award in Sunderland’s Travel Plan Awards. The awards promote sustainable travel and the reduction of congestion in the city. Three award categories – Bronze, Silver and Gold – distinguish the progress made.
Kevin Gatens, Director of Customer Services at EDF Energy explained why he feels the Gold award is justified: ‘We have worked very hard to establish a successful green travel scheme. We have already made significant progress in reducing the number of car journeys taken by staff in Sunderland, which will in turn cut carbon emissions and ease congestion and provide support to our commitment to reduce carbon emissions from our fleet by 20% in or before 2012.
Stephen Psallidas, a Project Manager with the Tyne & Wear Smarter Choices Team, who organised the awards along with Sunderland City Council, commented that: ‘EDF Energy has worked particularly hard to achieve a sustainable travel plan and we are pleased to be able to present them with a Gold Travel Plan Award.’
EDF Energy’s Green travel plans are regarded as best practice by other companies and within the last 12 months we have been approached by many companies to share best practice including; the Civil Service, Nissan and, Barclays. Our policies are also constantly reviewed and amended to reflect continuous improvements and we are currently working with our nuclear colleagues to develop and implement policies for our sites at East Kilbride and Barnwood.