The second annual Net Zero Report published by Falco reveals the utilities contractor’s tangible progress towards its stated ambition to transition to net zero emissions by 2035. While its total carbon emission rose to 2700 tonnes of CO2e the business grew by over 18% meaning an eight per cent reduction in relative carbon emissions throughout the year.
Founder and Managing Director of Falco, Brendan Griffin, says the report restates the company’s commitment to set the pace and show leadership in tackling climate change in the utilities sector:
“As a key member of the operational supply chain for the UK’s utilities distributors we are acutely aware that we have a responsibility to work closely with the network operators to explore and implement ways to reduce and ultimately phase-out the industry’s carbon emissions,” he said, “This year has seen us engage and work with UK Power Networks and Thames Water to find practical ways of reducing our carbon footprint.”
The utilities sector is estimated to be responsible for over a third of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. There is therefore considerable pressure on all those involved in the industry from network operators to maintenance contractors and supply chains to reduce energy consumption and to publish their plans, strategies and achievements.
Following a 16-month internal trial a new state-of-the-art range of e-diggers Falco teamed up with to UK Power Networks to trial two all-electric TB20e models manufactured by Japanese firm Takeuchi. Early feedback from site, in which the machines’ performance and battery life have impressed, encouraged us to accelerate our rollout programme by investing in fifteen additional TB20e units, which will join our fleet by early 2026.
The initiative has since gained significant traction across the industry, earning recognition from trade bodies, regulators, and the media. Most notably, the collaboration between Falco Construction and UK Power Networks was honoured with the Environmental Innovation Award at the City of London’s Considerate Contractor Streetworks Scheme Awards.
We estimate that replacing our entire fleet of diesel powered mini-excavators with electric will reduce our carbon emissions by over 200 tonnes per annum.
The report sets out future plans to introduce biofuels for plant and logistics, trial hydrogen power cells on site and introduce great rigour to our climate reporting by registering for the Pledge to Net Zero and Achilles Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) audit scheme.
Click to download Falco’s 2025 Net Zero Report.