Scotland's environmental regulator has formed a three-year partnership with one of the largest family-owned construction, housing, infrastructure and support services businesses in the UK to support green recovery and help transform the construction of public and private sector projects across the country.
The Sustainable Growth Agreement (SGA) between SEPA and Robertson is the first in Scotland to focus on environmental performance across an entire supply chain and will mean both organisations can evolve new and innovative processes around supply chain engagement and development.
Robertson has a wide and varied supply chain of suppliers and sub-contractors covering all elements of the built environment in Scotland, and the wider UK. Having recently been verified as ‘carbon neutral’ by One Carbon World, Robertson will continue to champion the environment with its supply chain by setting clear benchmarks, enhancing awareness and knowledge, and increasing environmental performance.
-- Advertisement --
The partnership will help amplify support for the businesses in the Robertson supply chain to meet their environmental obligations and encourage them to move beyond compliance by supporting the transition to a circular net zero economy, creating a sector where water, energy and materials are managed efficiently and carbon emissions are reduced - creating places where businesses, communities and nature can prosper within the resources of one planet.
Terry A'Hearn, SEPA's Chief Executive, said: "In 2018 I challenged Scotland’s business leaders to face up to the scale of the environmental challenge facing us. I explained that only great leaders would understand that it is an opportunity for their businesses and organisations to help solve - it while creating economic success.
"That's why I’m delighted that we have signed a Sustainable Growth Agreement with Robertson, a company that not only has great leaders as my fellow signatories – but is a great leader in its sector. This is the first agreement between SEPA and a tier 1 construction, housing, infrastructure and support services business and it creates a real opportunity to communicate the aspirations, challenges and opportunities for environmental performance in Scotland to a wide audience.
"The eyes of the world will be on Scotland this year in the run up to COP26. They'll see a country that has already committed to being a world leader in addressing climate change, that is already taking ambitious steps to drive a low carbon economy and that is committed to creating new opportunities for a stronger and more inclusive economy and society. But we can do more and we need even more great leaders to have the leadership, the courage and the vision to see the opportunity and take it. I hope our SGA with Robertson will inspire others to answer the call as well."
