Basingstoke: Actions to reduce environmental impact win HCR prestigious award

Basingstoke-based HCR is celebrating after again winning a prestigious award for excellence in environmental and corporate social responsibility (CSR). 

The company has won the 2012/13 Re:locate Award for Green/CSR achievement for the second year running with judges recognising both its support for local communities and the way in which it aligns sustainability with its core business. The judging panel was particularly impressed by the way in which HCR was able to demonstrate the results of its CSR commitment, commenting that green targets have been set and outcomes tracked.

George Dawes, HCR’s environmental manager, said: “This is another excellent achievement and we are delighted that our actions to reduce our carbon footprint have once again been judged as excellent, particularly as this year saw a big increase in entries. We were the first relocation company to become carbon neutral and this year we have planted a further 500 trees on behalf of our clients participating in our Sustainable Relocation Promise which helps to offset the impact of their corporate relocations. To date, we have planted 1,800 trees across Yorkshire, London, Worcestershire, Dumfries, Cornwall and Hampshire, including more than 1,000 in Old Basing to create a wildlife corridor.”

“I am very proud to lead the environmental area of our business and the fact that the whole team at HCR buy in to what we are trying to do. When people think sustainability in the relocation world, we want them to think of HCR.”

An independent assessment of HCR’s carbon footprint in 2012 by environmental analysts from Carbon Footprint showed that the company had re-worked its offices and day-to-day practices to cut site electricity usage by 19.2%, grey fleet car travel by 18.2% and refrigeration & A/C usage by 87.8%. Using metrics development by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Greenhouse report also revealed a 12.5% cut in total CO2 emissions - exceeding the company’s own annual reduction target of 10%.

HCR’s carbon management action plan aims to reduce its carbon footprint by a further 4% each year through recycling of all paper, card, printer toners, plastic cups, cans, plastic bottles and batteries and a switch off policy for all non-used rooms and computers. It also plans to become a paperless office through the development of a data management system. Other initiatives include a walk to work scheme, being part of the Government's cycle scheme and participating in Green Office week.

HCR was also shortlisted in the Technological Innovation in Relocation and Relocation Services Provider or Team of the Year categories. Re:locate is the leading magazine for HR, global managers and relocation professionals.