Earlier this year, as COVID-19 started to shut down many countries and bring various industries to a halt, it became clear that we were living in unprecedented times. However, good news found its way into headlines, bringing much-needed hope. After a few weeks of declining pollution levels and a lack of human presence in nature, images of the planet “healing” were a source of positivity for many.
The coronavirus has proven that there can in fact be a huge, collective global response to life-threatening emergencies, and that this can help us all in the long run. As the world slowed down to cope with the virus, many suddenly found extra time to reflect on what is important, and to look at the impact we are having on the world. Of course, it is not ideal that it took a tragic and testing event such as a global pandemic to create this effect. Yet, as we look ahead at a dreary winter, filled with tightening restrictions, it can be good to find a silver lining.
At Albion, we reacted quickly to COVID-19 lockdowns, shutting down our office on the 23rd March. Since then, only a small handful of staff have returned to the office, only where no public transport is required, and social distancing can be adhered to. Most of us have set up home offices by moving equipment into various houses, and through the purchase of new items where necessary. As a result of our rapid reactions, it was possible to continue much of the work Albion does, without any staff being at risk to COVID-19.
As a result of shifting to working-from-home, Albion was able to considerably reduce its corporate travel emissions that result from commuting. Under normal circumstances, the carbon emissions created by Albion’s staff as a result of commuting would be approximately equal to 489 kg CO2 eq per week. As such, Albion saved a substantial 3.4 tonnes CO2 eq from being released during March-August, due to a decline in staff commutes.
Additionally, Albion continued to provide multiple training courses and WAMITAB inductions online during lockdowns, and by conducting this work online, we saved around 780 kg CO2 eq. Despite this training having to be adjusted to provide the service safely, clients were happy with the outcomes. Staff and clients alike even found that online inductions were easier to arrange and made the process smoother and faster for trainees.
Whilst this is great, we decided we wanted to continue to reduce our corporate travel emissions in the long-term, not just as a temporary response to the Coronavirus. Albion does have various tasks (such as environmental monitoring, site visits, waste audits etc.) that make the use of various vehicles, including vans, unavoidable. As this work is essential to the waste industry – an integral part of our modern-day society – this work must continue as safely as possible.
To continue to realise emissions reductions even after lockdowns ease and at a time when commuting may once again be normal, we looked at the possible carbon savings from several different options. Since most Albion staff drive into work, simply exchanging the car for a greener mode of transport (e.g. trains), could generate an approximate 44% (213.8 kg CO² eq) drop in weekly travel emissions. Alternatively, having staff work from home on a far more regular basis (spending at least 1-2 of their normal office days at home) could create a 26% (129.4 kg CO² eq) reduction in weekly travel emissions. Another option is replacing all company vehicles with hybrid alternatives, which would result in a roughly 22% (108.8 kg CO² eq) decrease in travel emissions.
A staff-wide transition to train-travel requires a time and monetary cost to be expended by staff, and a move to using hybrid vehicles would involve a significant financial investment that requires some planning. However, a move to permanent, partial home-working would be fairly easy and cheap to set up. As such, Albion has continued to lower staff travel emissions by implementing several policies, including:
- Plans to implement measures that can promote cycling (bike 2 work scheme), use of public transport, and car-sharing (once COIVD-19 is no longer a risk and more staff are working in the office.)
- Encouraging all staff to work from home for 50% (rounded down to 2/5 or 1/3) of their working days – a measure that will be optional to staff, not mandatory. To enable this to work, current staff are provided with as much home-working equipment as possible, whilst any new staff will be supplied with laptops instead of desktops, to make transitions between regular home-working and office-working easier
- For training staff, emissions can continue to be lowered by continuing to offer online WAMITAB inductions. Additionally, any future training courses that are offered to clients will be presented as online or in-person lessons, with clients incentivised to choose the online options by means of a discount
Whilst COVID-19 has presented a massive challenge to businesses and workers worldwide, many were able to rise to the challenge. Here at Albion, we hope that the ways in which we have transformed our ways of working in order to lower carbon emissions and pollution, and become more sustainable (all whilst maintaining H&S amidst a pandemic), can inspire others to do the same.