True to its original nature and continued commitment to the environment, in 2006 the company set up a Safety and Sustainable Development Department.

The Channel Tunnel and its rail transport system have a number of intrinsic environmental advantages, including a fully underground link that prevents any interaction with the marine environment and 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.

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

Carbon footprint
Eurotunnel is concerned about green house gas emissions (CO2, etc.) linked to its activities, even if they are low. With the help of a specialist ADEME-accredited firm, a carbon review was carried out in
 September 2006, with an in-depth analysis covering gas generated by workshop activities, diesel locomotives and land vehicles used for transporting staff, catering etc.

The train represents one of the most ecologically sound means of transport, and Eurotunnel is already the least polluting cross-Channel operator .

Energy Savings

For Eurotunnel, managing its energy needs effectively represents a key part of the global business strategy. Several reviews were conducted during 2006 with a view to identifying further possibilities for reducing levels of consumption. These have led to a number of initiatives aimed at optimising heating and lighting costs for buildings and for the Tunnel itself:

• The launching of a major programme of energy efficiency at the start of 2006 (reducing the operating costs of ventilation, cooling, compressed air and heating and lighting in both buildings and the Tunnel…);
• The dynamic management of electricity purchases in the UK throughout 2006;
• The launch of capital construction projects enabling power supp ly to the catenary from France alone, where prices are still lower than in the UK (Solution to be operational by the end of 2007);
• Changing over to regulated energy pricing market in France for a two-year period at the start of 2007.

Waste management

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. Selective sorting continues effectively thanks to the motivation of staff, with 30% of general waste recycled , while only 10% is incinerated.

Reducing water consumption

The fitting of an automatic filter at the Coquelles Terminal treatment plant has made it possible to reduce significantly the level of water consumption from operations, down from 3,500 m 3 to 160 m 3 in 2006. In addition, various changes made to the management of the Tunnel’s cooling systems and procedures have enabled the quantity of water used in this way to be cut by 30%( -3,000 m 3 ).

Ground protection

In order to prevent ground pollution in the event of diesel leaking from any of the trucks transported by the Shuttles, a breakdown truck has now been equipped with a powerful explosion-proof pump, making it possible to pump out the entire contents of a 900 litre tank in just 2 to 3 minutes. Any fuel recovered in this way is then sent to a suitable processing centre.


Biodiversity
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 was awarded the “Green Flag” for excellent ecological quality for the second year running.

Know-how
In light of its achievements, Eurotunnel took part in the first environmental performance awards organised by the Nord Pas-de-Calais region’s Environment Mission in 2006.

Once again confirming the company’s commitment to the development of renewable energies, in May 2006 Eurotunnel re-launched the project for a wind farm on its Coquelles Terminal, which is expected to be constructed and brought into service during the first half of 2008, by the InnoVent company.

In France, a multi year species and spaces management plan, backed by the Conservatoire des Sites Naturels and the Groupe Ornithologique du Nord, is currently being looked into. The GON, which has been observing flora and fauna at Eurotunnel sites for around 10 years now, recently concluded that the species present were becoming well established.

Eurotunnel has launched, between the 1st and the 7th April, a widecustomer and staff awareness campaign whereby over 200 000 people of all nationalities will be called upon to act as ecology conscious citizens!

What does biodiversity refer to? A greenhouse effect gas or the Kyoto protocol? Why discriminate in favour of renewable energy and why save water and electricity? What is the lifetime of a glass bottle?
Posters, leaflets and quizzes will answer all these questions – Leaflet .

Many business partners are partaking in this operation (Diane restauration, Sélecta, le GON, le CSN, InnoVent, l’ADEME etc.).

This awareness action has been selected among the 1500 most remarkable actions at a national level and will figure in the Top 100.

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