Aztec’s Carbon Crusher Network Raises Environmental Awareness

Aztec Group has built a dedicated Carbon Crusher Network across its jurisdictions, as part of its wider people network. This initiative, launched just one year ago, is a voluntary, employee-led group that aims to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, provide support to our people and wider communities, and raise awareness of climate change, and positive steps that can be taken to reduce carbon emissions.

Many of those involved in the Carbon Crusher Network have completed Carbon Literacy Training as part of the Carbon Literacy Project, which is dedicated to raising awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis. The Network has collectively covered off key topics including alternative transport, recycling, consumption, renewable energy, single-use packaging, and plastics.

The Carbon Crusher Network has already hit the ground running with several initiatives to raise awareness of environmental choices in their jurisdictions. Some of the initiatives across our offices include:

In Guernsey, the team has been supporting the Better Journeys project, a community initiative set up to help people make a sustainable change for the better. They have also worked with the Clean Earth Trust to bring a swap shop and repair cafe event to life in the office.

Our Jersey Carbon Crushers organised volunteering sessions with Jersey Trees for Life, in the wake of damage created to the Island by Storm Ciaran in November 2023. Employees have planted over 500 hedgerow whips and 20 trees and built over 100 meters of dead hedging. More sessions with Jersey Trees for Life are being planned, including family events in the holidays.

The Luxembourg Carbon Crushers stepped up and launched ‘Alternative Transport Week’ in September and showed a simple carbon emissions calculator to measure how much choosing the alternative commute mattered. Our Luxembourg team also did a Glam Swap and second-hand Christmas market stall in the office. They gave employees their carbon-crushing soup recipe with locally grown veggies. Reusable Eco Bowls were another initiative started to cut down on the single-use packaging at onsite canteens.

Our Philadelphia office introduced home-cooked meat-free Wednesday meals amongst employees and set up simple swaps and employee trials to reduce the amount of packaging and plastics being bought with household items.

Our teams in the UK launched a ‘Cycle September in Southampton’ where – Dr Bike was on site to offer thorough bicycle inspections and minor repairs, and our London team competed in a tasty sustainable bake-off with seasonal and vegan ingredients!

In addition to these initiatives, the Sustainability Team and Carbon Crusher Network have bought several ”Meet the Expert” sessions for employees. These sessions have included leading renewable energy expert Roy Bedlow, CEO of Low Carbon, Louise Carson, creator of Borrow a Bucket Box and Crafters for Charity in Jersey, Sam Jacoby of Département de la mobilité et des transports in Luxembourg and Dr Emma Fieldhouse of Future We Want.

Tania Duncan, Head of Sustainability said ‘We are excited to see the positive impact that our Carbon Crusher Network continues to have in supporting the Group’s Net Zero ambitions, raising awareness of climate action with employees and supporting initiatives in our communities to create a brighter, more sustainable future for all. Their energy and enthusiasm in bringing this important topic to life has been brilliant.”