Given the competitive and changing nature of the publishing industry, says the company, this is a major achievement for Trinity Mirror which employs over 6,500 people in more than 68 locations across the UK.
Based on a rigorous, independent assessment, the Carbon Trust Standard is awarded to organisations for their sustained commitment to tackle climate change by measuring, managing and actively reducing their carbon emissions.
To achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, organisations must as a first step measure their direct carbon footprint (for example, onsite fuel and electricity use), prove to have good carbon management practices in place and demonstrate genuine reduction in their emissions over a three year period. Upon initial certification organisations also commit to continually reduce both their direct and indirect (for example, business travel) carbon emissions over the next two years before reassessment.
Paul Vickers, Trinity Mirror's Secretary and Group Legal Director, said: "Our staff can feel rightly proud of this achievement because they have contributed greatly to this recertification.
"Moreover, to be the first business to retain the Carbon Trust Standard demonstrates to our staff, customers and readers our genuine commitment to reducing our environmental impact.
"Obviously these reductions also have a benefit for our bottom line and saving energy in these challenging times makes good business sense.
"Going forward we will continue to set ourselves tough targets to ensure that we continue to reduce our environmental impact."
In 2008, Trinity Mirror was the first media group to achieve certification with the Carbon Trust Standard.
Two years on, Trinity Mirror has implemented a range of energy saving measures across the group that have resulted in a 9.5% absolute reduction in carbon emissions since certification - these measures range from the frontline education of staff through to large scale infrastructure investment programmes such as chiller replacements at a number of the company's major press sites.
Management reviews of production processes also identified areas where carbon savings could be made. In addition, with the introduction of a new publishing operating model, the company has been able to achieve a number of property consolidation projects which have reduced overall energy consumption.
In the reassessment process, Trinity Mirror was commended by the Carbon Trust Standard Company for publicly reporting its direct and indirect carbon emissions, as well as having a strong environmental policy in place, which commits the company to working with suppliers to measure and report the energy associated with contracted printing, product distribution and suppliers' business travel. By encouraging suppliers to reduce their carbon emissions, Trinity Mirror is building carbon management into the DNA of the business and changing the way carbon is perceived along the supply chain.
This is in contrast with findings from a Carbon Trust Standard survey which discovered that only a quarter of UK companies surveyed (26%) currently measure their carbon footprint and less than half (48%) have a clear corporate target for carbon, with 13% disclosing a carbon target publicly.
Harry Morrison, General Manager, the Carbon Trust Standard Company, said: "To date, more than 380 organisations have achieved certification with the Carbon Trust Standard. These are forward-thinking organisations that are using carbon reduction to differentiate themselves with customers, other stakeholders, potential employees and the investment community. We congratulate Trinity Mirror on being the first to achieve recertification.
"This is a true testament to the company's ongoing commitment to improving its efforts to measure, manage and reduce its carbon emissions."
Staying true to its forward-looking approach to carbon management, Trinity Mirror says it has already started planning on how to continue building on its successful carbon reduction efforts so far. The company aims to implement a range of carbon management programmes to further reduce carbon emissions. These include the installation of new, energy efficient chillers at a number of additional press sites, the introduction of a metering, monitoring and targeting programme and ongoing staff training which will allow the company to maintain momentum and continue to lead the industry in reducing carbon emissions.
