With cash in transit vehicles accounting for around a third of the company’s total carbon emissions in the UK, G4S has invested heavily in initiatives to reduce its overall carbon footprint.

In 2012, the size of the fleet was reduced by 84 vehicles. Two fully electric cash in transit vehicles, the first in the world, were rolled out, saving 4,974kg CO2 per year per vehicle. 210 vans were fitted with photovoltaic (PV) panels, which provided additional power and helped to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from running engines idle in traffic or by leaving engines running when parked.

New state of the art telematics technology allowed for tracking, mapping and feedback of driver behaviour, which improved fuel efficiency and reduced traffic accidents and engines running idle.

These initiatives enabled G4S to lower total mileage of its fleet and reduce the amount of money spent on fuel in 2012 by 13.9%, a saving of £1.13 million, whilst maintaining customer service levels. Running engines idle was reduced by 40%.

Darren Bell, Head of Fleet Management at G4S UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to have achieved such a significant reduction in emissions from our fleet. By continuing to use the latest innovative technology and operating our fleet as efficiently as possible, we are confident that we will be able to further reduce our environmental impact.”