irishcar.com

28 January 2002: Jaguar has received an environmental commendation at the 'Business Commitment to the Environment Awards' held in London.

The company was commended for achievements including accreditation to ISO14001, completed in 1998 – making Jaguar the first automotive company, worldwide, to achieve full simultaneous certification to this standard.

This was followed by the implementation of a company-wide strategy for environmental improvement and sustainable development, embracing dealers and suppliers and placing environmental and social responsibility at the heart of Jaguar's corporate citizenship values.

The strategy has resulted in Jaguar introducing a combined heat and power initiative at the company's West Midlands assembly plants, reducing CO2 emissions by over 50% and saving nearly £350,000 through a reduction in labour and service costs and the elimination of the need to chemically treat water.

Jaguar's managing director, Mike Beasley, said the company has concentrated on achieving 'real improvements' in its approach to environmental sustainability. "It is very pleasing to be recognised in this way, and I hope such awards encourage companies to put even more effort into achieving greater environmental sustainability," he said.

The BCE awards, run in association with national environmental charity Groundwork, represent an independent scheme that aims to encourage and recognise good environmental practice within business and authorities. Named companies are those able to demonstrate an outstanding commitment to environmental excellence over and above statutory requirements.

Jaguar adds this commendation to an environmental awards cabinet that already houses the BREEAM Award for the New Programme and Manufacturing Engineering Building 2000, Best Combined Heat and Power in Industry Award 2000, Severn Trent Water Business Environmental Partnership Award 2000, the Silver Award in the Green Apple Awards 2000 and the Silver and Gold Awards in the Green Apple Awards 2001.