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Environment

ISO 14001

Computer Cab was the first taxi company in the UK to achieve the environmental ISO 14001 in 2004.

In order to achieve this certification, Computer Cab implemented a management system which encompasses all aspects of our business, including the licensed taxi fleet and our office processes.

Ever Green Progress

We are now four years into our environmental management system and continuing to increase our environmental efforts. A snapshot of our progress year-on-year between 2007 and 2008 reveals:

What’s getting greener?

• Our fleet
  Using tyres inflated with pure Nitrogen instead of standard compressed air has resulted in reduced rolling resistance, longer lasting tyres and greater fuel economy.
• Our service partners
  Through careful environmental guidance, set standards and training, 68% of our London service partners are now more environmentally friendly.
• Our offices
  Paper consumption at our Harrow Head Office is 28% below the set target. Paper used for our driver statements and customer invoices also fell by 56% in 2008. This was achieved by turning to e-statements as a greener alternative. As well as paper, 30.43% of all stationary is environmentally friendly and all stationary is purchased from local suppliers.
• Our staff
  Across all our London sites the current percentage of waste being recycled is 51.57%, in 2007 this figure was 45.43%. We have set ourselves the target of increasing this figure to 75% by the end of 2009.
• Our energy bills
  In 2008 our call centre managed to lower its gas consumption by 24% whilst electricity fell by 5%. At our IT centre electricity consumption has also fallen by 5%. Both sites have benefited from old equipment being replaced by new energy efficient equipment, motion sensor lighting and setting all electrical equipment to energy saving modes.
• Our carbon footprint
  Overall across all our London sites we have stayed 4.55% below our carbon emissions target. In addition to this, as a company we have reduced our air travel by 37.2%. In 2008 company air travel equalled 13.47 tonnes of CO₂ compared to 21.45 tonnes of CO₂ in 2007.

Carbon Offsetting

Computer cab plc offsets the carbon emissions generated by our account customer journeys.

This is done through the ComfortDelGro carbon offsetting fund, and customers receive their carbon footprint and the offset each month on their invoice.

Download the ComforDelGro pledge to cut emissions and increase recycling efforts (in .pdf format)

Current Projects

With the help of our carbon management partner Carbon Clear Ltd, we have selected a number of carbon reduction projects that we are investing in. These projects not only offset carbon emissions but will improve the health and livelihoods of the communities involved, will help “real people”.

Sudan Low-Smoke Cook Stoves

We will provide LPG fuelled stoves to local communities, this will stop them cooking on open fires using wood in their homes. This project will reduce emissions, LPG is much more efficient than wood and also attains a higher cooking temperature. Two benefits – less smoke within the hut and higher cooking temperatures means less diseases.

Mini-Taxi (Tuk-Tuks) Engine Retrofit

Providing support to a local business that converts two-stroke mini taxi engines to modern fuel-injection technology. More efficient engines reduce carbon emissions and ambient air pollution.

Nicaragua Improved Brick Kilns

Financing the implementation of improved brick kilns for artisan brick makers in Nicaragua. Originally artisan brick makers used wood as fuel to run the kiln, now they will be utilising new improved kilns which will use agricultural residues such as corn stalks/rice husks etc (these are burned anyway to clear the fields), this new design reduces emissions from unsustainably harvested fuel wood.

Community Tree Planting in India & Africa

Small groups of local subsistence farmers plant trees from a selected species which help to prevent soil erosion and improve survival prospects.

We are also helping in our own backyard by supporting Trees for Cities charity with funding for their inner urban tree planting project.

Our carbon offsetting projects will be managed by Carbon Clear, our carbon management partner. All projects are audited and verified by independent auditors such as Bureau Veritas and DNV (depending on availability and location).

Greener Fleet

Computer Cab has a number of environmental initiatives regarding transportation. Initiatives include:

• LPG Taxi Project
• ComCab EURO IV black Taxi
• ComCab company van is EURO IV compliant (March 2007)
• All black Taxis are EURO III compliant (London Mayor)
• Emission reduction kit initiative for drivers to help them pay for fitting of emission reduction equipment
• Purchase of diesel cars and hybrid cars for executive fleet use (Flightlink)

We have installed a new Nitrogen inflation point at our Fleet Service Centre - where Nitrogen is available free to all our fleet.

It has been proven that tyres inflated with pure Nitrogen instead of standard compressed air last longer and keep their pressure longer. This latter means improved fuel economy.

The benefits of Nitrogen are:

• Up to 25% more tyre life
• Up to 5% less fuel consumption
• Safer motoring

Driving Tips

We also produce environmental updates for our drivers. The ‘Make London cleaner by driving greener’ handout includes useful tips for our drivers, helping them to adjust their driving style and vehicle standard to ensure lower emissions and cleaner air as they drive around town.

If you would like an electronic copy of our greener driving tips please e-Mail marketing@comcab.co.uk with ‘greener driving’ as the subject heading.

General Recycling and Green Initiatives

Computer Cab has implemented the following energy saving initiatives in its company buildings:

• Energy saving light bulbs
• Motion sensor lights
• All electronic equipment is set to energy saving mode.

Invoicing is prioritised for electronic web or email statement which is sent to account holder and manager of account.

Computer Cab is setting up schemes and projects with suppliers to look at ethical trading and fair trade sourcing for products. Also to aim to source products locally to reduce carbon footprint of products purchased for the company. We aim to purchases sustainable products that make economical benefits to farmer and local communities.

We recycle A4 envelopes as internal envelopes. The in house internal envelopes are forwarded on to other company sites to be used.

Computer Cab currently prints its statements on 80-20 recycled paper however the marketing and invoicing department are looking into printing onto 100% post-consumer recycled paper.

91% of all office copier paper is made from 100% post consumer waste and contains a minimum of 50% UK waste.

All departments at Computer Cab print their reports on 100% recycled paper.

Environmentally friendly products and services are part of the company’s procurement requirements. This fits in with our environmental practices and policies.

We are continually looking to improve the recycling scheme at all of our office locations. We introduced our Maxiwaste Recycling Scheme in Q4 in 2005. This recycling scheme is in place at all our office locations. We recycle the following materials: Office paper, magazines, envelopes, aluminium cans, glass, and plastic bottles.