William Hare Group has been awarded a 15-year achievement certification from carbon assessment body Achilles for significant and continued carbon emissions reduction.

This accolade sees the business recognised as the only dedicated structural steel company and one of only six businesses in the UK to significantly reduce its emissions year on year since 2010.

Reporting under the Toitū carbonreduce and net carbonzero programme, William Hare Group has achieved a reduction of 33.78% in absolute emissions (Scope 1 & 2) and 40.58% in emissions intensity (Scope 1, 2 & 3), since its 2010 base year.

These efforts form part of the business’ wider roadmap to Net Zero which includes supply chain engagement as well as further carbon reduction measures within the business and saw its Science Based targets validated by the SBTi initiative in October 2022.

This roadmap has seen the organisation implement a wide range of environmental management measures since its 2010 baseline report. Within its facilities, the business has replaced sodium lighting with efficient LED alternatives, switched weld sets to invertor types resulting in lower energy consumption and also installed solar panels for self-generated power at its Scarborough facility.

From an operational perspective, the business is cutting emissions through entering a REGO certified green energy contract, removing polluting diesel vehicles from the company car list and introducing hybrid and electric cars to its company fleet, with charging points at key facilities. The business has adopted a hybrid working approach, with increased technology-based communications to reduce the emissions associated with employee travel.

Brian Hughes, SHE Director at William Hare Group commented, “Our commitment to carbon reduction has been achieved through positive management and leadership from all levels of the business. Whilst we are proud to have been recognised for our year-on-year reductions since 2010, we are aware of the need to continue our efforts and further reduce our impact on the planet.

“As part of our commitment, we created our full Carbon Roadmap outlining the next stages of our journey in the drive towards Net Zero.”

In the future, William Hare aims to implement further measures to reduce its carbon footprint and has made a public commitment to transition to 100% net zero steel procurement by 2050, with an interim milestone in line with the SteelZero commitment criteria by 2030.

The business is also looking to further reduce its emissions through transport efficiencies and engaging with key clients to explore the reduction of carbon associated with onsite activities.