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Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea | Sustainability

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea | 2021 | London

Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Sustainability is at the forefront of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Parks and Landscape Maintenance Services contract, which began back in 2003. See how idverde is supporting the council with its sustainability ambitions which include becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030, carbon neutral borough by 2040, reducing single-use plastics, green infrastructure improvements, biodiversity gains, environmental education and delivery of social value.

More projects for The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Sustainability is at the forefront of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Parks and Landscape Maintenance Services contract, which began back in 2003. idverde has since been re-awarded the work on two occasions; in 2008 and more recently in April 2021 for a further period of 10 years covering grounds maintenance, sports and bereavement activities. As a London Borough, the council faces significant environmental challenges relating to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, road congestion and waste management to name but a few. These challenges are reflected in the new contract which requires idverde to support the council with its sustainability ambitions which include becoming a carbon neutral council by 2030, carbon neutral borough by 2040, reducing single-use-plastics, green infrastructure improvements, biodiversity gains, environmental education and delivery of social value.

holland park

Sustainable solutions and new technology

idverde are supporting the council with their sustainability targets by implementing a number of sustainable solutions and new technology on the contract. idverde first purchased a large quantity of small battery-powered hand tools back in 2009, which we deployed to deliver our services in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Working with the local authority, idverde delivered a 56% reduction to service carbon emissions over an eleven-year period between 2009 and 2020.

Some of this existing green technology will be replaced and expanded upon during the first year of the contract bringing immediate additional reductions to the service’s carbon emissions. Existing contract facilities have been upgraded to accommodate vehicle and machinery charging infrastructure ahead of the deployment of the very latest electric 3.5ton commercial vehicles which are due for delivery in winter 2021. Smaller electric vans are already operating on the contract providing low-carbon transport and logistical capacity to the contract team. In addition to these conventional vehicles, idverde are trialling a whole new approach to contract transport through the use of e-cargo bikes for idverde supervisors and park keepers to use which aims to reduce vehicles miles on the contract.

New equipment and machinery deployed into the contract include:

Royal Borough of Kensington new equipment

Aside from the overarching drive toward carbon neutrality, the idverde sustainability approach includes raising the standard of parks and open spaces by achieving additional Green Flag awards for sites yet to achieve the industry-wide recognised accolade. idverde will also work collaboratively with the council’s climate change team to support the wider council target of a carbon neutral borough by 2040 through resident engagement and strategic events such as climate change week. Other sustainable approaches taken to make an overall positive impact on the environment include the development of a sustainable planting guide, reducing water contamination (with a focus on litter), reducing flood risks, enhancing biodiversity through habitat enhancements and reducing the use of single-use plastics on the contract by reviewing procurement practices. idverde also employ a Community and Training Manager who raises horticultural standards and increases community engagement activities and volunteering opportunities.

idverde sustainability initiatives:

Kensington Sustainability Initiatives

Early Outcomes and Success

Over the first five months of the new contract, idverde has seen a 36% decrease in petrol consumption in comparison to 2019 operations. This is a positive start to a long journey ahead, which aims to reduce carbon emissions even further. As the new fleet of electric vans are introduced to the fleet in winter 2021 further emissions reductions will follow from reductions to diesel consumption. The hard-to-decarbonise fleet and assets such as pickup trucks, excavators and dumper trucks offer further opportunities to innovate as the contract matures and new technical solutions become available. idverde are currently developing solutions for reducing emission for hard-to-decarbonise fleet, which will have a significant impact on contracts such as those delivered for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.