Matters that concern the environment have always been important to MVIS. As MVIS navigates its way through the forever evolving Highways and Traffic Management industries, it has never been more important to be thinking and acting in ways that promote sustainability, carbon footprint management and general care for the environment.
The commitments spelled out in MVIS’ Corporate Social Responsibility policy go further than that just what is expected by MVIS’ ISO in environmental management (14001:2015). The company has been on a journey towards being carbon-friendly for 10 years now, starting with MVIS’ products.
MVIS’ products are by their very nature environmentally friendly, being solar powered and offering an alternative to fixed solutions that draw power from the grid straight away helps the environment in this regard, which is an effect that is only increased by time.
Couple this with some applications that MVIS’ products can be used for. For example, MVIS’ variable message signs can be used to help spread messaging that can make an impact on people’s behaviour, such as reminding drivers not to leave their engine running idle, or even to help remind people not to litter.
MVIS also offer a range of data collection solutions that can help Local Authorities, National Highways and site managers determine levels of traffic and their speed, which can then be used to make decisions that can affect the environment, such as issues regarding levels of pollution.
However, a recent product innovation offers a more targeted approach for pollution – the ITS Integrated Environmental Sensor, which can be integrated with any of MVIS’ products as an additional feature which offers clients the ability to monitor the external environment, producing a wide range of air pollution data that can be used to inform and direct on issues of air pollution safety.
MVIS don’t just embody environmental matters in MVIS’ products, but in its actions too.
In recent years, the company have taken several steps towards MVIS’ goal for carbon neutrality and have carried these through every level of the business.
MVIS undergo continual improvement when it comes to manufacturing. Over the last 10 years, the company has improved unit’s batteries and solar panels in line with the latest innovations in these technologies.
Better charging systems, as well as tilting and more efficient solar panels has resulted in improved run times and fewer battery changes, which means fewer journeys need to be made.
This has a huge impact across MVIS’ entire fleet.
Some units in the fleet itself can be traced back over a decade now – with continual refurbishments and upgrades, MVIS never dispose of a unit unless it is absolutely beyond repair. If a unit must be scrapped, MVIS salvages what it can and what it is safe to salvage, in order to minimise MVIS’ waste.
To help cut down on carbon emissions from the deliveries of products, MVIS developed a custom-built beavertail vehicle to allow deployment of 3 x VMS-A units, 2 x VMS-C units, or 2 x Solar IP units in one delivery. MVIS’ national coverage also means that it can pick the closest depot to deliver a unit from, saving staff who are further away the journey.
Perhaps one of MVIS’ more wider reaching recent environmentally friendly policies has been MVIS’ adoption of the ‘Carbon Club’ initiative, which was set up by Forest Carbon to allow smaller organisations and businesses to address their climate impact by planting trees and create new woodlands in the UK on MVIS’ behalf. This will sequester greenhouse gases from the atmosphere for years to come.
Over the years, significant upgrades to MVIS’ Matlock HQ has also been made.
Technological solutions such as movement sensors and timers for lights and hand dryers as well as eco-friendly heating solutions have been installed. This is in along with the introduction of a bee hotel and a hedgehog home that are fully maintained by MVIS’ team.
The importance of bees to the environment and global ecosystems are well documented, and the decision for hedgehog refuge is aligned with one of the downsides to the highways industry, with an estimated 25% of the UK population of hedgehogs being killed on our roads each year.
To add to the effort to give back to the local environment, on-site flower beds with plants are maintained by MVIS’ team which offers the added benefit of bringing some natural beauty to the local area and nicely compliments the nearby bee hotel.
Where possible, MVIS also chooses local suppliers. In sourcing local services and products, carbon footprint is reduced whilst bringing business to the local area.
Major components of MVIS’ products such as trailers are sourced from a local business, and wider servicing of work vehicles is also conducted locally.
The cumulative saving of these reoccurring needs being sourced locally will have saved a huge number of travel miles compared to alternative services that may have been offering better rates in different areas of the country or even the world.
Even MVIS’ waste management systems are carefully considered with regards to the environment. It utilises a specialist waste management company to dispose of waste accordingly, ensuring that what can be recycled is disposed of in the correct way.
To help keep the local environment friendly for wildlife, the MVIS team has also been on local litter picks.
More recently: the next steps in MVIS’ environmentally friendly journey.
In preparation for Highways UK 2021, MVIS developed a new way to inform MVIS’ customers about products and solutions that breaks away from the conventional presentation folder and spec sheets, which cumulatively will have a marked impact on the environment.
Using QR codes, visitors to MVIS’ stand were able to easily request an email to be sent to them automatically after scanning the code and visiting MVIS’ website.
The paper, ink and the potential waste that is involved in the production and distribution of MVIS’ information packs is no more.
To bring MVIS’ journey even more up to date, very recently the company was invited to the Balfour Beatty Sustainable Evolution Showcase, which was running alongside COP26 in Glasgow.
Based at Balfour Beatty’s Digital Innovation Hub, this event gave MVIS the opportunity to support Balfour Beatty in a celebration of sustainability in the industry, demonstrating MVIS’ solar powered products to visitors, school children, important delegates at the COP26 event and anyone else in the industry interested in sustainability.
Being present at a show like this gave MVIS the opportunity to help educate people on solar powered solutions that can benefit the environment, such as MVIS’ ITS Environmental Sensor.
Graeme Lee, Sales Director at MVIS comments:
“Being at the Sustainable Evolution Showcase is an important step for MVIS. Being able to represent MVIS and support Balfour Beatty at a show of this magnitude is a clear example of where a focus on sustainability can lead.”
Anne Ashman, UK Group Commercial and Operations Director added:
“There is always room for improvement when it comes to MVIS’ carbon footprint and it starts with the small things. MVIS have remained committed to giving back to the environment for 10 years now and MVIS’ commitment is only growing strong as we as a company grow. We are all looking forward to seeing a world where everyone takes environmentally friendly matters this seriously – and if COP26 is anything to go by, we don’t think this is too far behind.”
For more information please visit: www.m-vis.co.uk
