Environmental impact High
Employer/employee ranking 11/30
Staff numbers 750
Energy reduction 21%
Recycling 26%

You wouldn’t expect a firm that explores and drills the ocean bed for oil and gas to appear in a list of Best Green Companies, let alone be placed just outside the top 10. But it’s not the nature of the company’s business that matters here. What counts is the efforts made to reduce the firm’s impact on the environment and the commitment to achieving that end being made by its management and staff.

Total E&P UK (Tepuk), one of the largest operators in the North Sea, ranks highly in our list for its efforts to be cleaner and greener and scores well in our employee survey.

The firm prides itself on putting green issues at the centre of decisions, going beyond regulatory requirements and investing in the future of the environment as well as that of the business. Staff at the Aberdeen-based operator, which produced 10% of the UK’s oil and gas in 2006, give Tepuk a green score of 83% for taking its eco commitments very seriously and they support its financial investment in green initiatives (88%).

An environmental management programme at each of its three sites details action required to meet targets, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The company has installed equipment to stop oil-tainted water escaping into the open sea and, onshore at its St Fergus gas terminal on the northeast coast of Scotland, it has expanded its use of nitrogen to minimise emissions of carbon dioxide.

Employees say workplace signage is a constant reminder to think green (78%, a top 15 response) and the environment is an everyday consideration at work (73%). They are aware of the green implications of the work they do (78%) and know all about the firm’s eco policy (79%).

Roland Festor, the managing director, puts the environment at the heart of his annual presentation to employees. Staff get information on green issues (76%), which helps them think green (82%). They say they know where to put waste for recycling (92%) and which goes where (85%), both top 20 scores.

Tepuk, which includes Fina Exploration and Elf Exploration UK among its subsidiaries, also works in the community installing wildlife features and supporting projects. In addition, it sponsors the UK Green School awards. Staff think the firm does a lot for the environment (75%) and is getting greener (81%). And environment stuff doesn’t stop them getting on with their jobs (84%).