Motors: Volvo's pedal power initiative wins green prize at local Business Excellence Awards

3:09pm Thursday 4th October 2001

A COMPANY won an environmental prize at the annual Wycombe Business Excellence Awards with a novel recycling scheme.

Volvo Car UK, based in Globe Park, Marlow, won the award after introducing a number of green schemes, including payments of 50 grants to its employees to assist them in purchasing a new bicycle.

Around 200 people attended the evening awards ceremony, sponsored by Biffa Waste Services, at Wycombe Town Hall, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, on September 21.

John Pitts, environmental manager at Volvo Car UK said: "We are delighted with this award. Acting locally is just as important as trying to solve some of the big global environmental issues."

He added: "With all the environmental pressures on a crowded place like Buckinghamshire, it's great to see Wycombe District recognising good business environmental practice."

Volvo Car UK, which has been based in Marlow since 1986, constantly looks at ways of improving its impact on the local area.

Recent schemes include the use of audio conference facilities to minimise business travel.

Since 1998, Volvo's environmental work at its Marlow site has also been recognised through external certification under the internationally respected environmental management standards.