Environmental impact High
Employer/employee ranking 1/37
Staff numbers 40,000
Energy reduction 12%
Recycling n/a

Second overall, Carillion wins our green award for best large company with a high environmental impact. Fourteen years on from establishing its first eco policy, the business of building a greener future is not just a passing fad at this West Midlands-based firm.

Employees are aware of the policy, giving a green score of 76% in our survey. Carillion designs, builds and helps maintain structures for the public and private sectors, including transport infrastructure and buildings for health and education services as well as urban regeneration projects. Last year saw a reduction in the company’s carbon footprint, dropping from 62,296 tons to 59,610 tons from 2006. These figures take into account transport, hotel stays, the use of electricity, oil and gas and recycling.

By 2010, Carillion aims to have reduced its carbon emissions by 50% from 2006 levels, and staff recognise that the firm’s environmental commitments are serious (76%).

Energy consumption in the Wolverhampton head office was reduced by 12% last year. Renewable energy is used, and employees say investment in such environmental initiatives isn’t a waste of money (84%).

The carbon footprints of Carillion’s projects are also calculated, and the emphasis on energy efficiency within the business extends to the buildings it works on.

For instance, Carillion was involved in building the City of York council’s depot for environmental and waste services. The frame of the timber building is packed with straw bales which insulate the structure. Outdoor sensors control the opening and closing of windows, keeping the building cool without an electricity-guzzling air-conditioning system.

Employees say people in their teams think green (78%) and no longer associate being environmentally friendly with beards and sandals (75%). However, a low green score of 44%, ranking Carillion 36th, shows many would still rather turn up the heating than put on a jumper, and air-conditioning is used in the summer to keep the office cool (50%, ranking the firm 19th).

The firm supports 32 wildlife trust projects and has given £185,000 through the company’s natural habitats fund, £35,000 of which was donated last year. It also works with local bat conservation groups and the London Water Vole Project to relocate the animals safely from sites.