Stagecoach Group's story
Stagecoach is the UK's biggest bus operator with services connecting more than 100 major towns and cities in England, Scotland and Wales. They also operate coach and tram services. Stagecoach employs around 23,000 people and in many places its operations are an integral part of the local community and their journey towards sustainability.
The company itself is committed to purchasing renewable energy across all its businesses, targeting a zero-emission UK bus fleet by 2035 and aiming to achieve the goal of becoming a fully net-zero business by 2050. As part of their strategy, they have joined the global Race to Zero campaign, which is seeking to rally leadership and support for net-zero from businesses, cities, regions and investors. More widely, Stagecoach is encouraging behaviour change among customers in how they travel – as the following three examples illustrate:
In the west Midlands, Stagecoach is working with Transport for West Midlands to make Coventry the country's first all-electric bus city. Every bus in Coventry is planned to be electric powered by 2025, leading to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
In Manchester, the Stagecoach fleet of 32 electric double-decker buses represents one of the single biggest investments in this technology in Europe. Introduced in March 2020, these e-buses are designed to reduce annual nitrous oxide by the equivalent of 4.4 tonnes of carbon a year. They have also introduced Cambridge's first electric buses in a joint initiative with the Greater Cambridge Partnership. These buses only use around 2 kWhr of electricity per mile, which is the same as running a conventional oven for an hour.
In the key Scottish transport networks in Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth, Stagecoach introduced a further 46 new fully electric buses. Delivered through the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme, this has helped to improve air quality and advance Scotland's overall ambition for a net zero economy.
Our advice
"Our plans start with improving the sustainability of our own business. But we can also leverage the power of public transport to create a greener, smarter, safer, healthier and fairer country.
Making net zero a reality – and quickly – is about more than just switching technologies. We also need to change how we travel, moving people away from cars to walking, cycling and wheeling, and public transport.
This needs strong and brave leadership from national and regional governments to create incentives to reward the right choices. We also need to make sure the country's transport infrastructure is prioritised for people, such as bus passengers, whose are contributing to a cleaner and healthier country."
Steven Stewart
Stagecoach Group's metrics
Converting our bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035.
Cutting our carbon emissions 69% by 2035.
Diverting 95% waste from landfill by 2026.
Using 100% renewable energy.
Becoming a carbon neutral business by 2050.
