In CIHT’s manifesto A Transport Network Fit for All Our Futures, one of our strategic objectives is to ensure the transport sector decarbonises in line with legally binding obligations.  

This month, on 18th July, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is due to publish its 2024 progress report to Parliament. In its last report, the CCC cautioned that its confidence in the UK meeting its medium-term targets had decreased. The report called for the UK to ‘re-establish its climate leadership with a clearer strategy to develop Net Zero industries and technologies.’  While these words were directed at the UK parliament, it is essential that the UK transport sector also aims to lead by example in meeting the needs of the net zero agenda.  

This year’s CIHT awards were held on 13th June. The CIHT awards included a Decarbonisation Award which recognised projects, schemes, products, and strategies that could demonstrate the delivery of a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The projects shortlisted in this year’s award showcased organisations that have shown leadership and vision in taking climate action.  

In this article, we will look at how the shortlisted initiatives have been leading the way in decarbonisation.  

Opportunities for innovation 

Decarbonisation presents an opportunity for the sector to innovate. The organisation which won the Decarbonisation award showed a clear desire to take this opportunity.  

The winner of this year’s Decarbonisation award, Aggregate Industries UK Ltd, developed FoamixECO™, an ultra-low/net-zero carbon pavement solution, to support decarbonisation. According to Aggregate Industries, construction materials account for 11% of greenhouse gas emissions. Aggregate Industries identified a client that was housing a local in-situ Sitebatch Technologies® plant to replace conventional asphalts with Foamix®. They then sought to further reduce the carbon footprint to zero by identifying key supply chain partners who shared decarbonisation priorities. Through collaboration, troubleshooting, Research and Development and testing, a new material, FoamixECO™, was found to produce strong performance outcomes similar to standard Foamix® asphalt.  

Aggregate Industries found that their new product produced a reduction in emissions of 0.39kgCO2e/t. Onsite manufacturing also achieved a major saving of vehicle miles, meaning emissions reductions were achieved in both the development process and the product outcome. 

Adapting processes  

Incorporating carbon reduction into existing processes can deliver considerable change.  

Colas Ltd. was Highly Commended for Recycol in Cheshire West and Chester - Low carbon 100% binder course cold-recycling for the strategic road network. Colas worked in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council to adapt its proprietary Recycol process, which has typically been used on long, straight rural roads, for its first use on a major UK A-road. Recycol is an emulsion-based, cold-applied, in-situ recycling process. Working on a one-mile section of the A41, a sustainable and innovative asphalt resurfacing technique was used, recycling 100% of the binder course into the new road. 

Colas were able to demonstrate the practical application of Recycol on strategic roads within the local and national network. As a result, the project team were able to show that the Recycol technique achieved a substantial 65% reduction in carbon emissions. 

Strategic planning 

Strategic planning was another important theme from this year’s shortlist, showing the value of clear strategy and decisive action in delivering change.  

Transport for Wales was Commended for its work on A Just Transition to A Decarbonised Road Network in Wales. Transport for Wales wanted to address the need for a socially just transition, while creating a clear and positive environment for investment. Transport for Wales adopted a proactive approach, playing a stakeholder management role to deliver electric charging infrastructure. Delivery groups were developed, identifying likely future locations of bus depots, rapid charge hubs, as well as feeding information on other potential major power demand sites, such as the NHS and Network Rail, to help them plan a decarbonised distribution network.  

As of May 2024, Wales has 2,597 charge points, according to Zapmap.  

CIHT will be holding a workshop on Ensuring a Just Transition to Net Zero on 12th July. Book a place here. 

Engaging with stakeholders 

The shortlisted decarbonisation projects showed how effective engagement and communication can be used to influence modal shift to make considerable emissions reductions.  

GO Travel Solutions was Commended for its Getting to Work Fosse Park scheme. The scheme was set up to encourage uptake of lower-carbon travel for commuting to Fosse Park, a shopping park on the edge of the city of Leicester. GO Travel Solutions engaged with employers to secure support and influence employees. They also monitored progress through Staff Travel Surveys. Working closely with stakeholders, they established initiatives to encourage modal shift, promoting bus commuting and active travel. In response to survey feedback, they also introduced an Active Travel Hub in July 2023.  

Staff Travel Surveys showed a 20% decrease in single-occupancy vehicles commutes and an increase in bus usage from 11% to 25%, compared to 2018.  

Demonstrating pathways  

This year’s award shortlist has provided positive models that can influence the wider sector in future projects.  

Balfour Beatty was shortlisted for its utilisation of an innovative Hydrogen Power Unit (HPU) system as a low-carbon energy supply alternative to a diesel generator on its M1 Concrete Safety Barrier project in south Leeds. Construction sites that do not have a grid connection present a challenge to decarbonisation objectives. Balfour Beatty identified this barrier and sought to overcome it by using the Hydrogen Power Unit.  

As a result, Balfour Beatty was able to deliver reliable, zero carbon power covering 100% of the site’s energy requirements. Balfour Beatty took the initiative to solve a problem that would help deliver carbon reduction in future projects throughout the sector.  

Read CIHT's report on Reducing Emissions by 63% in a Decade

Read CIHT's report on Building Carbon Reduction into Procurement Processes

Learn more about CIHT CLIMATES

Register your interest for the 2025 CIHT Awards

Sponsorship 

To discuss sponsorship opportunities in relation to the awards, please contact Ben Sellers on Ben.sellers@thinkpublishing.co.uk +44 (0)20 3771 7238 

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