48 | Sustainable focus is paramount Recreational Services is the first company in New Zealand to bring in fully electric ride on lawnmowers . Recreational Services: 30th Anniversary CONTRACTING Success over three decades means Recreational Services operates with a longterm view. This has seen it invest significantly in sustainability over the years with the aim of becoming an industry market leader. “We are in a unique position to lead other companies towards a brighter, more environmentally conscious future and we continue to put a lot of time and energy into understanding how we can reduce our carbon footprint,” says one of the company directors Brett Turner. The approach has been a combination of sustainability, technological innovation and best practice. This has seen Recreational Services lead the way with regards to electric equipment and it is the first company in New Zealand to bring in fully electric ride on lawnmowers, says Brett. “The benefits of these mowers are that they have zero emissions, offer low noise and vibration levels, and do not use diesel, as most commercial fleet would normally run,” he says. “Since bringing these mowers on board, the team has collaborated with Te Tari Tiaki Pūngao (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority) to offer monitoring and benchmarking data to the industry.” As a service provider to councils, that now give preference to sustainable contractors, Recreational Services has an EV first fleet replacement policy. Any fossil fuel vehicle Recreational Services replaces it tries to see if there’s an EV alternative, says Brett. If there isn’t it will aim to get a hybrid or something that offers better fuel efficiency. Recreational Services also aims to reduce its use of chemicals and be as smart as possible regarding water usage. This saw it at the forefront of bringing the greener technology of Foamstream to New Zealand, a chemical-free alternative to Glyphosate. It imported two Foamstream units in 2018. The Foamstream units use hot water and a biodegradable insulating foam to kill weeds, which avoids the use of herbicides altogether, “We are in a unique position to lead other companies towards a brighter, more environmentally conscious future and we continue to put a lot of time and energy into understanding how we can reduce our carbon footprint.” Karen Phelps making it safe for use around people, animals and delicate environments. Another sustainable move was owning the first New Zealand Mitsubishi Canter Eco Hybrid transporter trucks with AdBlue technology, which reduces exhaust emissions by breaking down and removing the Nitrogen Oxides from the exhaust gas and offering the highest fuel efficiency in its class. Recently Recreational Services has had EROAD E2 installed in its assets, that not only enables fleet tracking but also allows the company to monitor driver behaviour and ensures its teams’ maintenance regimens are route optimised. “This offers the benefits of increasing fuel efficiency, reducing emissions and helping to manage overall vehicle maintenance,” says Mike Keith, Recreational Services’ national fleet manager. “We work alongside our industry suppliers to test new technologies, ensuring we are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest industry innovations for the parks industry,” says MIke. Brett Turner says that remaining at the forefront of the latest industry technology and sustainable practises is a whole organisational approach at Recreational Services. “Every employee is encouraged to share ideas and be on the lookout for new opportunities, and ways to improve existing practices. “By fostering a culture that values improvement, all ideas are formally documented and reviewed with no idea too big or too small. It’s the incremental change that leads to an equitable transition to a greener and sustainable organisation and future.” He says that being an advocate for its community, embracing sustainable practices in the parks industry was a “no-brainer”. Brett says the company aims to continue implementing more sustainable practices, expand its reach across New Zealand, and lead other companies and organisations towards more sustainable business operations.
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