Local Business Embraces Eco Stars Scheme To Reduce Vehicle Emissions

Published: 20th of September, 2022

This Scottish Climate Week we are focusing on a company in Glasgow that is a member of ECO Stars - the fleet recognition scheme that aims to help operators improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions whilst achieving cost savings.

McLays Foods, a local business based in the north of the city, has supplied meat and fresh produce to the catering trade for over 30 years and has been a member of ECO Stars since 2019.

ECO Stars is operated on behalf of Glasgow City Council by TRL and is one of many initiatives that are addressing air quality challenges within the city. The scheme is free, available for fleets of any size and is designed to raise awareness of the important role organisations can play in helping to improve air quality whilst enhancing their own environmental profile.

As a fleet recognition scheme, ECO Stars encourages operators to run their vehicle fleets more efficiently by helping them to reduce fuel consumption which leads to lower emissions and cost savings. Some of the measures that can be adopted include fuel management, driver skills development and preventative vehicle maintenance.

Andrew McLay, Director of McLays Foods said: "As we operate a fleet of around 15 refrigerated vehicles, we joined the ECO Stars scheme a few years ago to complement other initiatives ongoing within our company that look to reduce our environmental impact.

"ECO Stars helped us with changes that have made our fleet more efficient such as the adoption of daily vehicle checks and tracker systems that ensure we use less fuel and decrease emissions.  Trackers help us plan routes more proficiently and identify training opportunities. We have also worked closely with our customers to condense deliveries where possible, to reduce the number of journeys required.

"Having an ECO Stars accreditation makes you mindful of having earned it in the first place and increases our determination going forward to foster and maintain good practices that help us play our part in reducing vehicle emissions."

Any business fleet of HGVs, buses, coaches or vans which is based in, or operates regularly in the Glasgow City Council area can join the free ECO Stars scheme. You can get in touch with their team by telephoning 01344 770700 or by emailing ecostarsTRL@trl.co.uk.