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Four Scottish businesses take on their transport emissions

Transport is at the top of Scotland’s climate action to-do list.

Cars, vans and lorries are responsible for 28% of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions – more than any other sector. Add in planes and you’re looking at a third of the nation’s carbon pollution.

That’s why so many SMEs are now trying to work out how to reduce CO2 emissions from their fleet and by business travel.

It can be overwhelming. Not least because there’s a lot of misinformation online that creates uncertainty, especially around electric vehicles (read this excellent EV fact-check by Carbon Brief).

But there are bold businesses in Scotland already making strides on this front. In 2023, one Aberdeen firm saved £5,000 on fuel by switching just three of its 24 company vehicles to electric!

In this blog, we’ll introduce four teams working to reduce transport emissions and unpack how they’re doing it: from fuel-efficient driving and shorter routes to electric forklifts and EV coffee clubs.

They are:

  • McLays Foods, who supply fresh produce and fine foods to the catering sector from their Glasgow depot;
  • CSG Clean, who provide commercial cleaning services for Scotland and England from their Aberdeen headquarters;
  • East Lothian Housing Association, a non-profit managing around 1,400 rental properties and low-cost homes; and
  • LS Productions, who produce commercials, fashion shoots, films and TV projects internationally and in the UK, based in Edinburgh.

As you’ll see, reducing emissions from your fleet doesn’t always start with “switch everything to electric!” There are quicker, cheaper steps you can take right now. In fact, let’s start there...

Reducing emissions without going electric

A tried and tested approach is route planning.

Aim to minimise miles travelled and cars on the road. The less fuel you burn, the fewer emissions you create.

For example, CSG Clean’s cleaning staff visit several premises each day, so the route is mapped out in advance to minimise the distance travelled between each location.

They also introduced a minibus pick-up and drop-off service for cleaners working at the same location. This wasn't just a fuel-saving decision: cleaners finish their shifts late at night, so sharing one minibus is safer than 10 separate cars.

Similarly, McLays Foods has a dedicated transport manager whose job is to make sure driving routes are as efficient as possible. They recently moved many deliveries to off-peak times to avoid congestion. This has made deliveries 17% quicker on average – the equivalent of taking a van off the road for 2 weeks a year.

They avoid unnecessary trips by using empty vans to collect new stock from suppliers on the way back to their Glasgow depot.

Simple good habits can help cut emissions, too. Both companies train all their drivers in fuel-efficient driving and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks. McLays use the Verizon fleet tracking system to collect vehicle performance data, which is used to give feedback to drivers.

Don’t forget to communicate these changes to your clients.

Even small ‘pre-EV’ steps can show customers that you’re committed to Scotland’s 2045 net zero goal. As McLays’ technical manager Karen McCabe puts it: “Sustainability can now be the difference between winning or losing a contract.”

Switching to EVs

In the UK, driving an electric vehicle (EV) emits around two-thirds fewer emissions over its lifetime compared to a petrol or diesel car. It’s no surprise many SMEs are now looking to power their fleets with batteries. 

For CSG Clean, a phased switch is proving affordable and straightforward.

They started with their forklifts, cars and smaller vans. “It's been smoother than we thought it would be,” says finance director Laura Sutherland.

In the first year of having EVs, the company saved over £5,000 on fuel. They now plan to electrify the rest of the fleet one by one, when each vehicle’s current lease ends.

East Lothian Housing Association took a different tack: they introduced an employee EV lease scheme, paid for through a salary sacrifice.

This allows employees to pay for an electric car from their salary before tax and national insurance is deducted – just like the popular Cycle to Work scheme.

They partnered with a local car dealer Pike and Bambridge, so that staff would feel “more connected” to the scheme, explains finance and corporate services director Gary Alison. 

It was slow to start, but once the team members who had signed up started to see benefits – especially money saved on fuel and tax – others felt confident to take the plunge too, says Gary. “The next thing we're looking to do is have an EV coffee club where people can share stories.”

The benefits don’t just extend to employees. ELHA made savings by paying a lower rate of national insurance tax, which they re-invested into incentivising the scheme: Essential car users who sign up for the EV lease scheme have their mileage allowance tripled.

Sustainable business travel

Depending on your industry, business travel might account for a bigger share of your transport emissions.

For LS Productions, a company whose work relies on travelling to unique (and often remote) locations to scout, shoot, and photograph, it is one their largest sources of CO2 overall.

Writing a sustainable travel policy was a logical first step, says Laura Coulthart, people and operations manager. “It was relatively easy to get the data and is a tangible thing that people can understand the impact of”.

To get as much buy-in as possible, the company took a flexible approach.

Staff can opt for high-emission modes of transport like flying, but only once they have explored alternatives and taken actions to minimise the impact. For example:

  • Consider if the journey can be avoided altogether
  • Take the train by default for journeys in the UK and between European cities
  • Arrange car sharing when driving to remote shoot locations
  • When flying, only book economy seats (more efficient) on direct flights (fewer air miles) and take less luggage

To sweeten the deal for reluctant train passengers, LS Productions use SeatFrog, an app that allows you to bid for cheap first-class seats on the UK rail network.

Or, sign up to Climate Perks, an employee benefits scheme which rewards staff with extra days off work if they choose low-carbon travel.

Finally, use clear and concise messaging.

For example, LS productions have made “train first” the simple version of their policy. Even if staff don’t read the whole document, they will remember the premise!

“Sometimes last-minute requests come in that can derail our efforts,” says Laura. “But we stick to the plan 90 to 95% of the time.”

Learn more

Keep up the momentum

If you are still rearing to go, then we invite you to sign up for Climate Springboard, a free business support programme by Edinburgh Climate Change Institute. It’s designed to equip SMEs in Scotland with the knowledge and tools to start out on their journey to net zero. 

It lasts just over a month and is completely free. At the end, attendees leave with a company carbon footprint, a template for a long-term net-zero strategy, and a tailored list of quick ways to lower emissions and costs.