THE motorway service area operator Roadchef has said that a new partnership with sustainability certification provider Planet Mark is 'a major step in the company’s journey to reducing its carbon footprint'.

Roadchef and Planet Mark have been working together to measure the company’s carbon footprint and will soon set a target to reduce its carbon emissions, involving a number of pledges to ensure they get there in the near future.

Roadchef is also supporting Planet Mark’s 'Zero Carbon Tour' that aims to illustrate the actions the business community is taking to address the climate crisis and take the net zero carbon message to communities across the UK.

As part of its eight-month tour - ending at the COP26 in Glasgow - last week the 100 percent electric tour bus made a stop at Roadchef Killington Lake services in Cumbria.

In Cumbria: Pictured (left to right): David Ratcliffe, Corporate Sustainability Sector Director FM, Novati; Mike Jackson, Director of Supply Chain Management & Head of Charity at Roadchef; Graham Dixon, Business Solutions Innovator, Zoosch/Novati; Robert Jones-BookerPictured (left to right): David Ratcliffe, Corporate Sustainability Sector Director FM, Novati; Mike Jackson, Director of Supply Chain Management & Head of Charity at Roadchef; Graham Dixon, Business Solutions Innovator, Zoosch/Novati; Robert Jones-Booker

Key members from the companies, including Roadchef’s non-executive chairman, Simon Turl, and Planet Mark’s engagement manager, Hannah Dean-Wood, as well as a number of Roadchef’s key suppliers, spoke to visitors about the concept of net zero carbon and how businesses like Roadchef are key in the collective effort to transition to a net zero carbon economy.

Mark Fox, CEO at Roadchef, said: “Roadchef is proud that sustainability has been top of the agenda for some time and that this is realised through many existing initiatives, but we also know that the business community needs to come together and do more.

"We are delighted to propel our sustainability goals forward through this new partnership with Planet Mark.

"With their help, we will be able to truly measure our carbon footprint and better understand the initiatives we need to implement to enable meaningful change and create a more sustainable future for our planet."

Steve Malkin, CEO at Planet Mark added: “Killington Lake motorway service area has been the perfect stop for our Zero Carton Tour as we’ve had the chance to engage with people from across the country."

Roadchef has also recently begun a new partnership with the world’s largest surplus food app, Too Good To Go. Leading the food waste movement, Too Good To Go lets people buy surplus food and drink from restaurants, grocery stores, pubs, cafes and producers to stop it from going to waste.

Other initiatives implemented on the business’ journey to reducing its carbon footprint include the use of LED lighting and reduction in electricity and water usage.