AHEAD of World Environment Day (June 5), 156-year-old Inchinnan contractor Thomas Johnstone Ltd (TJL) has highlighted the importance of conducting business sustainably.
Since first gaining its certification to ISO14001 in 2011, the firm has maintained this year-on-year.
The specialist fit-out contractor has undertaken several initiatives and improvements to sustainability practices, including a significant investment in solar energy. The company has installed 473 solar panels on the roof of its head office and manufactured joinery facility. The panels are expected to decrease electricity usage by up to 40%. Since the initial installation in late 2023, the system has enabled TJL to save over 12,750 kg of CO2 emissions.
Thomas Johnstone Ltd has also increased the number of electric vehicle charging points and implemented a salary sacrifice scheme for company car and car allowance drivers who switch to fully electric vehicles. The contract hire scheme aims to encourage staff to drive electric cars by providing better terms than they could generally access as individuals. Several employees and directors signed up for the scheme in its first few months.
These improvements follow previously completed steps in TJL’s sustainability strategy, including switching to LED lighting throughout the head and regional offices and installing new roof cladding and insulation, industrial curtains, and an Ecogate extract system within the company’s 30,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility.
Where possible, waste materials are segregated on sites, with up to 98% ultimately recycled. This has led to recognition from waste management partner ENVA for recycling 54.17 tonnes of construction waste on a single site over a five-month period. Further development plans include trialling hybrid generators and introducing solar-powered welfare cabins.
David Haddow, joint MD, said, “As a company, Thomas Johnstone Ltd are committed to engaging in sustainable practices wherever possible. We are proud of the steps we have taken so far and are committed to further investing in reducing our environmental impact year on year.”
