Speedy Hire Improves Climate Reporting Through ISO 14064-1 Verification
Speedy Hire has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. To support this goal, the company recognized the importance of ensuring its greenhouse gas emissions data was accurate, transparent, and independently verified.
About Speedy Hire
Speedy Hire is one of the UK's leading providers of tool, equipment, and plant rental services. Serving the construction, infrastructure, and industrial sectors, the company also provides training, testing, and on-site support services to help customers complete projects efficiently and sustainably.
With more than 3,000 employees operating across 137 locations, sustainability has become a key priority for Speedy Hire as it works toward its ambitious net-zero targets.
The Challenge
As stakeholder expectations continue to increase, carbon reporting has become essential for demonstrating progress, meeting reporting requirements, and building confidence among customers, investors, and shareholders. Speedy Hire also wanted to ensure its reporting aligned with internationally recognized standards while reducing the risk of greenwashing by having its emissions data independently verified.
Building a Carbon Quantification Framework
To support its sustainability objectives, Speedy Hire aligned its greenhouse gas reporting with both ISO 14064-1 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
These internationally recognized frameworks were selected because they provide a consistent and credible approach to greenhouse gas quantification for large, operationally complex organizations.
They also support the company's broader reporting commitments, including disclosures for CDP, EcoVadis, and other governance frameworks.
As Speedy Hire continues to mature its reporting approach, it has expanded its use of detailed activity-based data, including telematics information and embodied carbon data. This has helped improve the accuracy and depth of its emissions profile.
The Audit Experience
By the time of its most recent verification, Speedy Hire had already completed several years of reporting aligned with ISO 14064-1 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Preparation involved extensive internal processes, data validation, and the use of established tools to strengthen emissions quantification across Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. The verification audit was led by Stephen Burt, with support from the wider NQA (a Kiwa company) team.
The verification audit was delivered to a very high standard. The team managed time and the audit program effectively, asked engaging and insightful questions throughout, and made the overall process both smooth and enjoyable.
How verification has already impacted their business
Independent verification plays an important role in supporting Speedy Hire's sustainability reporting and long-term climate strategy. The verified greenhouse gas data supports the company's annual reporting and governance disclosures, giving stakeholders greater confidence that its emissions have been accurately measured and reported.
Verification has also supported the continued development of Speedy Hire's carbon management approach by driving improvements in data quality, validation processes, and reporting practices.
Why Speedy Hire chose NQA (a Kiwa company)
Having previously worked with NQA, the Speedy Hire team valued the expertise, professionalism, and understanding demonstrated by NQA's auditors, particularly when navigating the complexities of carbon accounting within the sector.
The company also recognized NQA's ability to provide a thorough and credible verification process, especially as its carbon footprint methodology continued to evolve through the introduction of new data sets and increasingly detailed reporting.
Next Steps and Future Aspirations
As part of its ongoing sustainability journey, Speedy Hire plans to further improve its emissions reporting through greater use of activity-based data and increased collaboration with suppliers to obtain carbon information.
The company will also continue strengthening its data validation processes while monitoring emerging sustainability reporting requirements and future developments.
Source: This article was originally published by NQA, part of the Kiwa Group, and has been republished as part of the Why Trust Matters campaign. For the latest version and related resources, view the original article on the NQA website.
