FPM achieves ISO 16001 accreditation!

10 Jan 2012

(left to right): John Foster, Christine Colbert (Lead Auditor of QMS) presenting Andrew Verney with the ISO 16001 certificate

Fosters have taken the decision to set standards in the management of its energy consumption and carbon footprint.  Over the last few months we have been working on the implementation of British Standard 16001 (ISO 50001) Energy Management Systems.  Our aim is to improve our ‘triple bottom line’ (People, Profit, Planet).  We have committed to improve the way we operate and also to help staff reduce their own fuel consumption.  Some initiatives have already been implemented and a further range is being considered for implementation through 2012.

We are keen to reduce our businesses impact on the environment (Planet), and have measured our ‘carbon footprint’, identifying all of the activities that use energy and therefore lead to CO2 emissions. 

Vehicle fuel consumption

The largest single factor is our vehicle fleet.  We have implemented a number of measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption:

• All company vans have been fitted with satellite tracking devices that monitor the speed of the vehicle and a 50mph limit has been introduced to optimise consumption.

• A new module added to the tracking system will link it up with the fuel purchase card, automatically calculating fuel consumption per mile and comparing it with manufacturer’s figures for each vehicle.

• High consumption will be investigated and drivers will be trained in reducing the weight of the vehicle, minimising idling time, smoother driving and better route planning to cut consumption by up to 15%.  

• New vehicles are selected from among the most fuel efficient, using the Department for Transport’s Van CO2 and Fuel Consumption database.

• The company is also considering alternative-fuel vehicles using biofuels or green electricity.

Solar PV installation at Fosters HQ

We have recently invested in a large Solar PV installation for the roof of our Wisbech HQ and neighbouring buildings.  The 140kW array will provide all of Fosters electricity during daylight hours on most days of the year, generating over 100,000 kWh of electricity per annum and saving over 50 tonnes of CO2.  Energy that is not used on site will be exported, providing green electricity to the national grid.

Reduction in electricity usage

Fosters are also keen to reduce the costs and emissions from our use of electricity. 

We have already installed highly efficient Dyson Airblade hand driers that have proved to be better for the environment and for personal hygiene.  The Airblades are powered for FREE due to electricity being produced by the Solar PV installation at Fosters HQ in Wisbech.

The Airblades use 80% less energy and are unique in achieving the highest NSF rating for public health and safety.    

Fosters are trialling energy monitoring devices that will be offered to all our people to help them reduce their personal carbon footprint. 

The devices are easy to operate and early indications suggest that over £3,000 per year could be saved in total by staff in their homes, equivalent to a further 40 tonnes of CO2.

Our approach to the management of scarce fossil fuel energy and the protection of the environment is holistic, encompassing all aspects of their operations. 

BS EN 16001 (ISO 50001) represents the latest best practice in energy management and we are delighted to be one of the first organisations of its size to achieve accreditation.

Thank you

A big thank you goes out to all the Fosters team who have wholeheartedly embraced the green values of the business,  especially to Andrew Verney who's done a fantastic job in helping Fosters achieve accreditation.

Our sister company FRE (Foster Renewable Energies Ltd www.fre-ltd.co.uk) is well on the way to also achieving 16001, to sit alongside 9001, 14001, 18001, MCS & GasSafe accreditations.