Community Transport Champion is an Air Quality ECO Star

Published: 3 October 2019

Community transport provider North Area Transport Association (NATA), have become the 200th member of ECO Stars - the recognition scheme that aims to help fleet operators improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions whilst achieving cost savings.

Improving Air Quality

ECO Stars is operated on behalf of Glasgow City Council by TRL and is just one example of a raft of initiatives that are addressing air quality challenges within the city. The scheme is free, available for fleets of any size and is designed to raise awareness of the important role organisations can play in helping to improve air quality whilst enhancing their own environmental profile.

Fuel Efficient

Robert Woodrow, Operations Director at NATA said: "We're delighted to become ECO Stars' 200^th member in Glasgow. We operate twelve vehicles across the city and are very keen to become more fuel efficient, reduce our impact on the environment and benefit from the free expert advice available."

NATA has been catering for group travel needs since 2004, by providing minibuses for private hire, community transport and minibus driver training. As a social enterprise, NATA provides access to essential services and community facilities through reliable and cost-effective transportation with any profit generated going straight back into the communities they serve.

Reducing Vehicle Emissions

Councillor Anna Richardson, Convener for Carbon Reduction and Sustainability, who presented Mr Woodrow with NATA's ECO Stars certificate said: "I'm delighted that this free scheme will help NATA and others, make efficiency savings as well as reducing their vehicle emissions. We're determined to clean up Glasgow's air and this fantastic scheme offers free, tailored support to fleet operators no matter their size. As our city centre Low Emission Zone widens in scope to include all vehicles by the end of 2022, involvement in schemes like this are a great way of preparing your businesses for the new emission requirements."

Preparing for the Low Emission Zone

Mark Cavers from ECO Stars said; "The arrival of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone means that all fleet operators need to consider their approach to vehicle choice and fuel management. It's great to see NATA engaging with this process and agreeing clear steps to minimise their vehicle emissions. The milestone of the 200th member shows that Glasgow's ECO Stars membership has come a long way since it started in 2014, and now covers nearly 9,000 vehicles across all transport sectors. NATA's membership boosts the representation of community transport providers and shows everyone has their part to play in reducing local emissions and improving air quality for everyone. Congratulation to them on their 3 star achievement and demonstrating industry best practice in the management of fuel and drivers"

ECO Stars is a free fleet recognition scheme that encourages operators to run their vehicle fleets more efficiently by helping them to reduce fuel consumption, improve efficiency and reduce emissions.

Membership of the scheme has shown in numerous case studies to have had a dramatic improvement in fuel efficiency which not only saves money for organisations it also results in a reduction in their environmental impact.