Bupa picks up global Carbon Trust Standard on journey to reduce CO2 by 20%

Bupa has become the first healthcare company in the private sector to be awarded global Carbon Trust Standard certification, for its work on measuring, managing and reducing its carbon footprint.


The Carbon Trust assessed and certified international healthcare group Bupa’s carbon footprint over a three year period across 11 countries, looking at data from hundreds of sites in five market units. In total, almost half a million tonnes of CO2 was measured.

According to the company, it has reduced its absolute carbon footprint by over 6,200 tonnes across the certification period, resulting in significant savings in energy costs around the world. Bupa intends to reduce its carbon footprint by 20% by 2015.

Bupa’s CEO, Stuart Fletcher, said: “Every step Bupa takes towards having a positive impact on the environment contributes to our purpose of longer, healthier, happier lives. Reducing the energy we use, and the carbon it generates, positively impacts the rates of asthma and other illnesses by reducing particulate pollution – which is crucial for us as a healthcare company.

“Achieving certification and reducing our carbon footprint are the result of more than £8m of investment in carbon reduction projects. By sharing environmental expertise across our offices, care homes, clinics, hospitals and other facilities worldwide, we have been able to make the right first steps, and we are committed to accelerating our progress over the next few years,” added Fletcher.

Bupa is set to invest a further £10m in carbon reduction projects by the end of 2013, which will include installing new BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems), renewable technologies, boilers, insulation and energy efficient lighting.

Carbon Trust managing director of certification, Darran Messem, said: “Achieving global certification to the Carbon Trust Standard is a challenging task and few multinational companies have managed it to date”.

Leigh Stringer

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