FirstGroup has been officially recognised by a set of three corporate sustainability assessments, placing it amongst some of the world’s top companies when it comes to sustainability and environmental protection efforts.
This year has seen FirstGroup increase its overall score in the S&P Sustainability Yearbook, securing its place amongst the top 10% of companies in the transport industry to have made marked improvements in both environmental and social management, including energy and water use, as well as biodiversity protection.
To come to this conclusion; data company S&P reviewed over 9,200 companies across 59 industries, all of which were placed against its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, which analyses the links between sustainability and companies’ business strategies.
FirstGroup was named as one of 23 global transportation companies to feature in the company’s latest Yearbook. It also moved five placed up the Clean200 ranking of the world’s largest public companies by sustainable revenue.
Published annually by research company Corporate Knights and not-for-profit corporate responsibility advocates As You Sow; the Carbon Clean 200 list placed FirstGroup at number 118, making it the UK’s 4th top company.
All companies involved are assessed based on revenue generated from sustainable products and services such as renewable energy, electric vehicles and energy efficiency.
This year, 8,229 global companies were assessed, with 200 from 30 countries selected to appear on the list and FirstGroup subsequently placed 28th out of 50 in its ‘industrials’ category.
Finally, FirstGroup has announced the retention of its ‘B’ rating with CDP, a non-profit which annually publishes a dataset of how companies understand, manage and disclose environmental risks.
This year saw the assessment of over 22,100 worldwide companies assessed, with FirstGroup maintaining its previous position and receiving recognition for both having processes in place and taking action to manage environmental issues.
Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, said:Being recognised on a global platform for our environmental, social and governance performance is testament to the work of our bus and rail teams in maintaining high standards across our business.
As a private sector provider of public transport, we are leading the way with decarbonising our fleet, reducing emissions, improving air quality and protecting the environment, alongside investing in our people and creating a workforce of the future that reflects the communities we serve.
