SPT is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and adopting sustainable policies and practices. Work is ongoing across SPT to identify measures to improve energy efficiency, reduce water consumption and minimise waste.

A carbon footprint is a measure of the direct and indirect impacts on the environment of human activity, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

It is widely accepted that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities have a negative impact on the environment. Greenhouse gases are produced by everyday activities such as burning gas for domestic heating, and vehicle use, and their increased concentration in the atmosphere has been linked with climate change.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most common greenhouse gas, and emissions of CO2 are used as the basis for carbon footprint calculations.
Why calculate SPT’s carbon footprint?

Calculating the carbon footprint of SPT operations is an important step as it sets the baseline against which progress in reducing CO₂ emissions can be monitored. Data on annual energy consumption, waste generation and fleet and staff business travel was collected and the carbon footprint was calculated using conversion factors published by the UK Government agency Defra.

Action to reduce SPT’s carbon footprint

SPT is working to improve its environmental performance and reduce the environmental impact of its day-to-day operations. The results of the footprint calculation have been used to set corporate improvement goals, and SPT will strive to meet or exceed these targets.

Improved energy management procedures have been implemented and appropriate energy efficiency measures will be identified and implemented where feasible in order to reduce energy consumption. Efforts will be made to minimise waste and increase reuse and recycling, and through the continuing use of Staff Travel Plans and the SPT Travel at Work policy, business travel will be reduced where possible and modal shift to more sustainable methods of travel will be encouraged.