Our Sustainability Journey
At COLAS JV (Asset Management), sustainability is not just a goal; it’s a core value that guides our actions every day. We understand the urgent need to address climate change and are committed to leading by example. Our CO₂ Performance Ladder initiative represents our pledge to significantly reduce our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future for all.
The success of Colas JV and Colas has been built on developing solutions to road maintenance which ensure that essential connections are maintained between our communities, regions and cities. As we look towards the road ahead, we are conscious that these connectors need to be maintained and developed more sustainably.
Colas JV are committed to working with TII on this journey to net-zero. Our priority is to reduce the impact of our transport infrastructure on the environment, and we are also developing services to protect and restore the adjacent lands and habitats which are home to many species of flora and fauna.
We increasingly see our role as custodians of the land and are already working with environmental experts to develop approaches that protect biodiversity.
Gearóid Lohan
CEO - Colas Ireland / Colas JV Board Member
Our Net Zero Framework
In 2023, Colas JV developed a strategic framework and implementation plan to manage the journey to net zero and to ensure that we continue to lead the market. This framework is built on four key pillars:
Decarbonisation
Our agenda is driving energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint as we work towards carbon neutrality and better air quality. We’ve set ambitious goals because we believe in the power of decisive action.
Goals;
- 75% reduction in our carbon emissions by 2025
- Achieve net zero emissions by 2050
- 100% of our fleet to run on alternative fuel sources by 2025
- Heavy vehicles transitioned to Green Hydrogen by 2050
Our carbon reduction numbers:
How we did it: 3 priority areas
Fleet
- Commenced Switching our winter fleet and Supervisor vans on HVO
- Switched our company cars to Electric vehicles and provided EV charging at depots for staff
- Trained our fleet Drivers for fuel efficient driving
Buildings
- Conducted Energy Audits and Solar surveys on our Depots
- Replaced kerosene boilers with heat pumps
- Installed LED lighting across all depots
- Installation of solar panels in one of the four depots
New Solutions
Our goal is to become leaders in delivering sustainability, not just through how we operate, but in the goods and services we use. We are committed to using products and technologies that can enable savings in terms of material efficiency and with lower embedded carbon than traditional material, and which are resilient to future climate changes.
Nature Recovery and Biodiversity
Colas JV are not only responsible for the roads we manage, but the surrounding 1100 hectares of open grass, trees, scrubland, flora and fauna that inhabit there. We have a responsibility to not only ensure that our ecological footprint is as small as possible, but to restore and enhance Ireland’s natural capital wherever possible.
Actions:
- Ecological Assessment of The MMaRC Network B
- Partnership With “All Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP)”
- Pollinator-friendly Short Flowering (6 Week) Meadows
- Rewilding Initiative – Native Wildflower Regrowth in Natural Habitat
- Herbicide Alternate Trials:
- Foam stream: Trialled in May 2022 across multiple junct ions on the M6, M7, and M18, Foam stream uses steam as an herbicide-free solut ion for weed control.
- Pelargonic Acid (Katoun Gold): trialled from the Ennis depot, this herbicide-free treatment uses naturally occurring pelargonic acid for weed control. It degrades quickly into natural elements with no residual impact.
- Foam stream: Trialled in May 2022 across multiple junct ions on the M6, M7, and M18, Foam stream uses steam as an herbicide-free solut ion for weed control.
People
CJV is committed to generating lasting, positive impacts for the communities where we work, the people we work with, and our staff. Across our depots we are engaging with our staff to generate new ways of working that will promote more sustainable behaviour.
Actions:
- LEADING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
IEMA-approved e-training for senior executives on developing a sustainability strategy and understanding the business case for launching the Net Zero journey. - ENVIRONMENTAL GOOD PRACTICE ON SITE: IMPACT MANAGEMENT TRAINING
For site managers on pollution, waste management and acceptability
- WASTE RECYCLING AWARENESS IN STAFF
Bi weekly waste sorting awareness campaign
- CLIMATE FRESK
Climate Fresk is being deployed to train a group of 20 staff members
Transparent Communication
Sharing Our Progress
We are committed to transparency. Regular updates about our CO₂ footprint and reduction efforts help us stay accountable and inform our stakeholders.
Read Our Latest CO₂ Report (SKAO ladder report)
Discover Our Initiatives (COLAS Go Green Website and YouTube channel)
CO2 Performance Ladder:
Ireland’s climate targets aim to reduce carbon emissions by 51% by 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Through its scale and spending, green procurement in the construction sector has the potential to positively aid Ireland in reaching these vital targets.
COLAS joint venture is managing carbon footprint via CO₂ Performance Ladder. It is a tool that helps organisations embed green procurement into their operations in an accessible and structured way.
It consists of 5 levels and an organisation that is certified on a certain level adheres to the requirements of the CO2 Performance Ladder. These requirements are based on four angles, namely:
- Insight: To determine different streams of energy and the carbon footprint of the organisation.
- Reduction: To develop ambitious goals for the reduction of CO2 emissions.
- Transparency: To structurally communicate about organisation policies of CO2 reduction.
- Participation: To take part of business sector initiatives with regards to the reduction of carbon emissions
Find our more here about our CO2 Performance ladder Initiative (SKAO report)
Additional Enhancements
To further engage and inform our stakeholders:
- Interactive Dashboard: Our real-time dashboard allows you to track our CO₂ reduction progress ( click here to view)
- Future Goals Section: Learn about our long-term sustainability goals beyond 2030, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement. See out go green website here.
Contact Us
For more information on our sustainability initiatives and how you can get involved, please reach out to us through our contact page.