True to its original nature and continued commitment to the environment, Eurotunnel is the most environmentally friendly cross-Channel operator and shows green credentials.

The Channel Tunnel and its rail transport system have a number of intrinsic environmental advantages: a fully underground link that prevents any interaction with the marine environment; electric locomotives that generate a low level of atmospheric pollution and only marginal green house gas emissions. Through a series of initiatives, Eurotunnel has maintained progress throughout its years in operation.

In order to make customers more aware of its commitment to sustainable development, Eurotunnel is running since May 2009 a Passenger Shuttle wrapped in a livery representing the beauty of the natural environment.

Eurotunnel's commitment to environmental protection involves a number of initiatives:

Carbon footprint

Eurotunnel is concerned about green house gas emissions (CO2,…) linked to its activities, even if they are low. With the help of a specialist ADEME-accredited firm, Eurotunnel is to date the only cross-Channel operator to have published a carbon footprint review each year since 2006.

In two years, Eurotunnel has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half, from 85,000 carbon equivalent tonnes in 2006 to 43,000 in 2008.

For Eurotunnel, managing its energy needs effectively represents a key part of the global business strategy which includes the commitment to reduce overall consumption of electricity and water.
Since 2008, Eurotunnel buys virtually all of the electricity needed to power its trains in France, with 3 benefits:

Once again confirming the company’s commitment to the development of renewable energies, Eurotunnel inaugurated on 20 April 2010 a 3 turbine wind farm (2.4 megawatts), next to its Coquelles Terminal, which will produce energy sufficient to power 2,000 homes.

 
Eurotunnel has maintained its commitment to sorting its waste, an approach reflected in the continued improvement in waste storage conditions and transfers through to final destination and the reduction in waste volume. In 2009, 50% of the different waste produced on the Coquelles site was able to be recycled. A new reprocessing channel was rolled out in 2009 for the recycling of fats collected in wash water from company restaurants and the central collective cooking unit at the French Terminal. This waste, which represents approximately 50 tonnes per year, is now sent to the Calais methanisation facility, where it is used to generate renewable electricity.

As soon as the construction period ended, Eurotunnel adopted a policy for managing its various green areas, monitoring the flora and fauna on its two Terminals.

This ecological monitoring, carried out for a number of years now, has shown the high heritage value of the French and UK sites.

In England, the Samphire Hoe site, a nature reserve, covers 30 hectares of land belonging to the Group, at the foot of the Dover cliffs in Kent. This nature reserve is managed in partnership with the White Cliffs Countryside Project.

Samphire Hoe  welcomes more than 110,000 visitors each year and was awarded the “Green Flag” for excellent ecological quality for the 6^th year running.

These sites have become nature reserves to flora and many wildlife species.

Sustainable development, an attitude to share at three different levels

Firstly, more than 200,000 Eurotunnel customers were made aware of sustainable development issues through campaigns organised in partnership with the French environment and energy management agency (ADEME) – Sustainable development Week, Mobility Week, Waste reduction Week – and through two exhibitions in the Folkestone and Coquelles Passenger Terminal Buildings.

Secondly, Eurotunnel invited the group’s 2,300 employees and staff from its subcontractors to take part in the three campaigns and two exhibitions (see above) to raise awareness. Eurotunnel’s electronic newsletter also includes a dedicated section on sustainable development news such as how to be an eco-citizen, findings from the carbon footprint review as well as presentations from experts on energy savings and waste reduction.

Finally, Eurotunnel is getting its suppliers and subcontractors more involved in its approach. The group has therefore drawn up a list of criteria measuring each supplier’s relationship on an environmental level. This analysis is taken into consideration in the selection process for new business partnerships.

Environment advertising campaign - October 2009

• [pdf] - 2009 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2008 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2007 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2006 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2005 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2004 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2003 Environment report
• [pdf] - 2002 Environment report