Merseytravel recognises that the sites we manage, the services we supply and the decisions of our staff have an effect on the environment. We are committed to integrating environmental sustainability into the core of our work minimising the impact of our operations on the environment.

We produced our first Environmental Strategy in 1996 and were the first PTE/ITA to do this and as an organisation we have moved on considerably since then. We have now completed our third Environmental Sustainability Strategy (PDF download - 2.14Mb) that covers the period 2006-2011. This strategy takes a two-pronged approach to demonstrate how our in-house policies are creating positive environmental change on a local, national and global scale and how on a wider scale our external corporate policies are having far reaching benefits in the community, the environment and the economy. Our approach has very much been to lead by example to broaden our impact by influencing the performance of key stakeholders and partners such as transport operators.

As part of our commitment to openness, Merseytravel publishes the progress we have made towards environmental improvements in all our activities. Each report contains information on our carbon dioxide emissions, resource use, Environmental Management System, sustainable design, community work and education programmes.

The Environment and Merseytravel (PDF Download - 1.23Mb) The leaflet highlights our achievements over the last few years and what we plan to do.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2008/09 (PDF Download – 5 Mb) contains the progress in delivering our Environmental Sustainability Strategy and highlights the sustainable construction of Pier Head Ferry Terminal.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2007/08 (PDF Download - 1.17Mb) Contains a case study on the sustainable procurement of Bellamy's Restaurant, highlights communication through staff challenges and updates the technology performance of Liverpool South Parkway.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2006/07 (PDF Download - 5.50Mb) Contains case studies of Liverpool South Parkway Interchange, reducing paper use and the introduction of staff challenges.

Environmental Sustainability Report 2005/06 (PDF Download - 1.47Mb) This report highlights the sustainable refurbishment of Seacombe Ferry Terminal.

Internal Performance

Cutting our carbon footprint
In early 2009, Merseytravel became the first PTE and ITA to achieve certification to the Carbon Trust Standard, by reducing our carbon footprint by 7% from 2006 to 2008. We are a signatory of the Nottingham Declaration on climate change and committed to addressing the causes and impacts of Climate Change with our Partners.

Environmental Management
In June 2003 we became the first PTE and ITA in the country to gain certification to Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO 14001. An EMS is a documented verifiable system to control our significant environmental impacts, ensure legal compliance and deliver continual environmental improvement. One requirement of the EMS is to have an Environmental Policy (PDF Document - 27k) that is available to the public.

Travel Plan
Merseytravel's Travel Plan (PDF Download - 657k) aims to encourage employees to make more sustainable travel choices, by using public transport, walking, cycling or making more efficient use of their cars. The plan was developed with the assistance of TravelWise Merseyside and initiatives are tailored to the needs of each of its sites individually and can enable us to reduce the impact of travel and transport on the environment, while also bringing improvements to staff health and morale as well as cutting the cost of business travel.

A few of the initiatives we have employed to date include installing showers and clothes lockers for those who wish to cycle to work and providing interest free loans of up to £500 for staff wishing to purchase a bicycle for their commute.

External Projects

Merseytravel is a key partner in many Partnership projects across Merseyside and nationally addressing environmental sustainability.

We play an important role in addressing issues such as Local Air Quality, Climate Change (mitigation and adaptation) and input into the environmental sustainability of the Local Transport Plan (LTP).  We are represented on a number of national bodies and play a lead role in the PTEG Sustainability Task Group.

Promoting sustainable biofuels
BIONIC is a €1.4 million project promoting the production and use of sustainably produced road biofuels in Sweden, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain and North West England. The project is part financed by the EC through the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. BIONIC started in November 2007 and ends in October 2010 and is coordinated by Merseytravel.

The project was started in response to the need for the biofuels industry to develop sustainably so that biofuels can fully contribute to reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions in the road transport sector without causing unintended environmental damage. Since the project was initiated the awareness of the need for biofuels to be sustainable has increased markedly both at a political level and amongst users.

In the North West of England Merseytravel and Lancashire County Council are working together to promote the use of sustainably produced biofuels to fleet users. During the course of the project the North West Biofuels User Group is supporting BIONIC. This group is chaired by Merseytravel and provides a network for fleet users to share experience of biofuel use and to meet North West based producers whilst also providing access to expert speakers. The group is free to join for fleets and producers of sustainable biofuels and aims to break down the barriers to sustainable biofuels usage.

For more information about BIONIC please visit the BIONIC project website or the ECOtravel biofuels pages.

Promoting sustainable vehicles
Merseytravel is committed to promoting sustainable mobility and improving air quality. Between 2002 and 2005 the CATCH project aimed to change policy and implement change through the purchase of cleaner vehicles, the 'cleaning up' of existing vehicles and various sustainable mobility measures and monitoring. Funded through the European Commissions (EC) Life-Environment Programme, this project and other similar projects, are extremely useful and are used in promotion of best practice in the EC. CATCH was implemented in Liverpool (UK), Suceava (Romania) and Potenza (Italy).

CATCH aimed to:

• promote sustainable mobility (walking, cycling and public transport).
• develop an innovative, partnership-based approach to transport-related environment policy in Liverpool.
• improve urban air quality e.g. 88 particulate traps fitted to Arriva buses, 16 buses fitted with traps and NOX reducing equipment, and a new diesel-electric hybrid bus service in Liverpool city centre.
• contribute to the EC's Kyoto commitments.
• develop an innovative pollution monitoring kit
• disseminate results and promote best practice.
• transfer knowledge and experience to other EU member states and Candidate Countries.

As part of the CATCH project, a sustainable mobility information bureau was created. The ECOtravel Bureau has continued after the end of CATCH and has gone from strength to strength with website hits increasing every year since its launch. The Bureau provides free and impartial information and advice to both the public and business communities on Merseyside regarding reduced emissions vehicles and fuels. The Bureau is currently supporting the BIONIC project.