Environment
The Board acknowledges its responsibilities for ensuring that environmental risks arising from the activities of its businesses are properly identified, managed and controlled, and that its businesses are compliant with all local laws, as well as with best practice – the latter where it is practicable.
Environment Policy
Each of our two divisions has its own environmental policy, which has been approved by the Divisional Operating Boards and is integrated within existing management structures and implemented through normal business practices and procedures. These environmental policies address the following areas:
• allocating roles, responsibilities and resources;
• complying with legislation and best practice;
• monitoring, verification and auditing of compliance;
• data collection, analysis and reporting;
• risk identification, assessment and management;
• communication and dissemination of information;
• adopting technology and working practices that are modern, environmentally friendly and energy efficient; and
• working with customers and suppliers to address environmental issues affecting our businesses.
At Group level, environmental issues affecting the businesses are the responsibility of, and reported by, each Divisional Managing Director to the Board. Environmental risks associated with new businesses are always assessed as part of our due diligence process on all acquisitions.
Within Menzies Aviation, as part of the SMART programme, operational management have to certify periodically compliance with local environmental regulations. There were no incidents last year which posed a significant environmental risk to the Group’s operations and systems are in place to try to prevent their occurrence. These systems are reviewed periodically. As well as preventing risk, the Group is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and impact on the environments in which it operates.
Carbon Trust Standard
The Group is proud that at the start of 2009, Menzies Distribution achieved the Carbon Trust Standard for the energy efficiency work that has been undertaken in the division.
The Carbon Trust Standard is awarded to organisations that measure, manage and reduce their carbon footprint. It shows which businesses and organisations are taking real action on climate change and reducing carbon emissions and the award recognises Menzies Distribution’s efforts to date and its commitment to further reductions. Carbon footprint reduction continues across the Group, providing efficiencies and reducing costs to the business and both divisions remain committed to minimising the impact they have on the environment.
Energy consumption
At Menzies Distribution, energy consumption during the year amounted to 28m kWh, a decrease of 10% on 2008. Since October 2007 all its mainland UK electricity has been procured from fully ‘green’ renewable resources. The division has a target of reducing electricity consumption by over 12% from its 2008 figures by the end of 2011, and seeks to maintain its accreditation to Carbon Trust Standard.
Menzies Aviation operates largely in shared environments such as airport terminals, and their direct billed energy is significantly lower than that of Menzies Distribution. However, they work closely with airport authorities in minimising their energy consumption, and actively promote efficiencies within their own premises.
In 2010, the Group will continue monitoring its energy consumption levels in the UK as part of its requirements under the Carbon Reduction Commitment. Water consumption across the business is low. Both divisions again have a policy in place to minimise usage and the impact of our business operations to the local environments.
Menzies Distribution five year strategy
2009 was the first year of Menzies Distribution’s five year conservation strategy, aimed at implementing its Energy and Water policy. The strategy is divided into three parallel streams:
• Monitoring and targeting;
• Good housekeeping – encompassing staff awareness, staff training, motivation and publicity; and
• Technical improvements – investing to improve efficiency and reduce emissions.
Each stream has its own internal objectives and methods, and is being implemented by a combination of external facilitators and experts, and Menzies in-house facilities and logistics teams and site managers.