Costain has announced a 38% reduction in its Scope 1 emissions as a result of its switch to low-carbon fuels.

Following a change in its fuel choice, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) made up 80% of its fuel mix 2022 compared with just 12% in 2021.

The company has also seen a 24% reduction in the use of natural gas and a 19% reduction in its Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions such as from electricity generation) due to improved efficiencies, for example in office electricity use. Overall, by turnover (tCO2e/£M), total emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3 have decreased by 10% against our baseline, and we continue to work towards our goal of net zero by 2035.

Scope 3 emissions from activities such as business travel, waste, water and energy and fuel-related activities saw a reduction against the baseline. This is the largest area of our footprint and continues to be our focus to ensure we capture and manage our emissions. We continue to improve our Scope 3 data maturity, working with our supply chain to ensure we are collectively working towards a net zero future.


Since launching our Climate Change Action Plan in 2020, significant achievements have been made towards our ambition to lead UK infrastructure to a net zero future:

• We have established a carbon baseline, reduction target and tangible action plan for all relevant projects

• We introduced a Low Carbon Materials mandate which will reduce the carbon associated with our concrete / cement and asphalt, improve data through tagging 3D models and encourage sustainable procurement practices 

• In 2022, 99% of the cars delivered to our staff were ultralow or low emissions vehicles (ULEVs and LEVs) 

• Last year, 100% of our office electricity consumption was procured using REGO (renewable energy guarantees of origin) backed tariffs.

Geraint Rowland, Costain's environmental director, said: "Eliminating carbon emissions is fundamental to ensure we help shape UK infrastructure to mitigate and adapt to the global challenge of climate change.  We are on a journey to be a clean growth leader by cutting our own emissions but also working with government, regulators and clients to enable the uptake of low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen to cut carbon emissions across every sector."