Turning Commitment into Measurable Performance
At Johnson’s sustainability is not a statement of intent, it is a measurable business outcome. Over the past financial year, the company has delivered a 54% reduction in carbon intensity across its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, demonstrating that operational excellence and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.
This progress is rooted in disciplined investment, practical innovation, and a clear roadmap for continued improvement. Johnsons established a clear Scope 1 & 2 carbon baseline across fuel use, electricity consumption, and processing operations. From that starting point, targeted improvements were introduced across energy, transport, and materials recovery. The result was a transformational step change in carbon performance within just one financial year.
Renewable Energy Generation
At the businesses Stanton and Whittlesey manufacturing facilities, solar panels have been installed across roof spaces, generating renewable electricity on-site. This reduces reliance on grid power and directly lowers Scope 2 emissions.
In addition:
LED lighting has been fully installed across IBA processing facilities, significantly reducing electricity demand while improving operational visibility and safety.
A changing in processing has eliminated Fossil fuels from the IBA drying process
Together, these measures form the backbone of Johnsons’ Green Energy programme, reducing emissions at source rather than relying on offsets
Smarter Transport, Lower Emissions
Transport is traditionally one of the largest contributors to Scope 1 emissions. Johnsons has taken decisive steps to change that.
Immediate Improvements:
A dedicated driver trainer has been employed to promote safe, fuel-efficient driving across the fleet.
Material delivery notes have moved to handheld digital devices, reducing paper use and improving route and load efficiency.
Medium term Improvements:
A new Energy-from-Waste contract launching this summer will also see IBA collected using HVO-powered vehicles, embedding low-carbon fuel use as standard practice.
From March, Johnsons is renewing its fleet of 8-wheel tipper vehicles, upgrading its Scania vehicles over the next 12 months with modern, fuel-efficient engines and enhanced performance features to improve miles-per-gallon and reduce emissions per tonne transported
Johnsons has also committed to operating a hydrogen-powered vehicle for IBA collection, a first-of-its-kind initiative within the sector. This represents a major step toward zero-emission heavy transport and positions the company at the forefront of sustainable logistics innovation.
Outside of transport, Johnsons has invested £400,000 in enhanced water management infrastructure at its Stanton Manufacturing Facility. By recycling rainwater and reducing reliance on potable water, this project is expected to save 883 kg of CO₂e, further lowering operational carbon intensity. This demonstrates that even utility systems, often overlooked, are being scrutinised and optimised.
Looking ahead
Johnsons’ environmental impact extends beyond its own direct emissions. By diverting Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA) from landfill and processing it into:
Low-carbon IBA Aggregates (IBAA)
Recovered metals for remanufacture
Secondary construction materials
This avoids emissions associated with primary aggregate extraction and virgin metal production. Every tonne of low-carbon aggregate used in construction displaces higher-carbon alternatives, multiplying the climate benefit across the value chain.
With a 54% reduction in carbon intensity already achieved year-on-year, the company is not just setting targets, it is delivering measurable progress backed by financial data and operational investment.
Johnson’s is actively lowering its own footprint while enabling carbon savings across construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing supply chains. For Johnsons, sustainability is no longer an ambition, it is a performance metric.