How They Do It: Stagecoach Drives Free Supplier Sustainability Training
Part of a Climate Innovation Network series profiling the firms making real climate progress.
Transportation is one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. According to the UN environment programme, the transport sector contributes approximately one quarter of all energy-related GHG emissions – meaning it will have to adapt rapidly to comply with approaching governmental and national net zero commitments. In the UK, domestic transport accounted for 28% of total emissions in 2022. As an industry, it has struggled to decarbonize at the same rate as other sectors: between 1990 and 2022, overall emissions have fallen by 50% while transport emissions have decreased by just 12%.
Who:
Stagecoach is UK's largest transport operator with over 23,000 employees. It runs a network of buses, coaches and trams connecting more than 100 major towns and cities in England, Scotland, and Wales.
What particular challenges do they face?
In 2021, Stagecoach set targets to transition to a zero emission bus fleet by 2035 and to reach net zero by 2050. It has a huge network of stakeholders internally – tens of thousands of employees and assets – and externally – with around 7,000 supply chain partners. The organization is heavily dependent on infrastructure and national policy to reach its targets, and growing demand in urban areas may slow overall progress.
What did they do?
Stagecoach has announced an initiative to roll out a free sustainability training programme for its top 300 suppliers, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to embrace greener practices. It has joined forces with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) UK Network with the goal of aligning its vast supply chain with environmental, social and governance principles. The Sustainable Suppliers Training Programme will provide in-depth education on sustainability fundamentals, including the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and internationally recognized sustainability reporting standards.
How did they do it?
The initiative will entail four structured training modules, with participants attending a mix of live sessions and online learning from March to September. The programme is designed to ensure that key partners integrate eco-conscious strategies into their operations, reinforcing a collective push toward greener transport solutions.
Stagecoach is far from the only organization involved with the training project. The transport operator is one of seven major UK businesses backing the initiative, alongside Aviva, BDO, Menzies Aviation, AVEVA Group, Crown Agents Bank and Freshfields.
Where you can find out more:
To learn more about Stagecoach’s sustainability initiatives and progress towards net zero, visit its corporate sustainability webpage, or read the 2024 update to its Driving Net Zero report.
