Facilities services company OCS has achieved Toitū carbonzero certification across both its Australian and New Zealand businesses, becoming the first Australasian company of its type to receive this certification. The achievement was published in the company’s recent 2020 sustainability report.
Since 2017, OCS has worked closely with Toitū Envirocare to measure its operational greenhouse gas emissions and put in place strategies to manage and reduce its carbon footprint each year, achieving Toitū carbonreduce certification in New Zealand for the last two years.
OCS Australia New Zealand managing director, Gareth Marriott, says the Australian arm of the business was also recently audited and instead of bringing both businesses into the Toitū carbonreduce programme, Marriott decided to fast-track their plans by taking the next step in their sustainability journey to become carbon neutral.
“Our goal is to ensure OCS is a business which is in harmony with our environment, setting an example for other facilities management services businesses around our region and the world.
“Over the years, we’ve worked closely with our suppliers and customers to reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment. In particular, through analysing our fleet and reducing our fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by moving to electric and hybrid vehicles, changing our New Zealand electricity supplier to Ecotricity and implementing innovative waste solutions on customer sites to reduce, reuse and recycle.”
Carbon neutrality is an aspirational goal and OCS recognises that avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions in their entirety is almost impossible. Given this, they took the step to purchase a combination of New Zealand and international verified carbon credits.
“Decarbonising our entire business to reach carbon neutral is a major step towards meeting our strategic business objective of being the most environmentally sustainable business in our sector by 2030.”
Sustainable Business Council executive director, Mike Burrell said 2020 was characterised by uncertainty and challenge, particularly for those trying to combat climate change and move from climate advocacy to action.
“This makes OCS’ many commitments in this space even more pleasing.
“Achieving Toitū carbonzero certification in both Australia and New Zealand is a major accomplishment and demonstrates OCS’ commitment to carbon reduction and the Paris Agreement.
“These actions help deliver a strong message to many others in the sector to follow suit.”
OCS’ sustainability journey is further supported by their membership to the Sustainable Business Council and membership and signatory to the New Zealand Climate Leaders Coalition. Their sustainability programme is aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement’s 1.5-degree pathway and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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