Our sustainability commitment
Leading the Lifting Industry – Net Zero for Scope 1 & 2 Emissions
Our aim is to be the most sustainable mobile crane hire business in the UK.
We understand that our industry has a significant impact on the environment, but we are determined to make a positive difference and play an influential role in mitigating climate change across the sectors we work in.
Since 2018, we’re exceptionally proud to have reduced our CO₂ output by over 95%. And now, as of 2025, Cadman Cranes is officially Net Zero for our Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
We’ve achieved this by focusing on carbon reduction first and only offsetting where absolutely necessary. Through cleaner fuels like HVO, investment in renewable energy, and greater operational efficiency, we’ve lowered our emissions to the lowest possible level, then responsibly offset the remaining CO₂ via verified climate projects.
But there is still more work to be done. We’re now turning our focus to our Scope 3 emissions and are committed to achieving further reductions across our wider value chain.
Our achievements so far
- First UK mobile crane hire company to switch entire crane fleet to run on HVO – a renewable biofuel alternative to diesel
- Scope 1 and 2 Net Zero status officially achieved in 2025
- Wide range of EV charging points installed for both staff and visitors
- Sensor-activated LED lighting installed throughout our HQ
- Waste management process in place to ensure correct recycling of paper, wood, steel, and plastic
- Net Zero roadmap established with defined actions and annual review milestones
- All support and welfare vehicles to switched to HVO or fully electric
- All company cars switched to fully electric
- Adopted sustainable workwear for all staff members
Our plans moving forward
- Advance our Scope 3 emissions strategy via supplier engagement, better materials, and minimal-impact offsetting
- Install a rainwater harvesting system to supply vehicle wash-down and greywater use
- Introduce green spaces on-site: carved-out areas for planting and outdoor seating, even within our working yard
- Seek independent sustainability accreditation to validate our progress and set the benchmark for the lifting industry
- Launch employee engagement programmes, starting with a Climate Fresk workshop to inspire team-wide involvement and shared ownership
- Ring-fence 2% of annual profits for structured contributions to local and national causes that matter to our people
- Stay at the forefront of hydrogen technology, supporting the transition and investing early in hydrogen-powered products and supporting infrastructure
Managing Director’s Sustainability Commitment
“When considering climate change it’s tough not to be overwhelmed by the scale of it. I do believe that action is needed right now to avert disaster, but I also think this can be a positive challenge for all of us.”
“An opportunity for us to pull together, use our ingenuity, and achieve something we can be truly proud of.
And for me sustainability isn’t just climate change, it’s also about our people, our families, our communities, our business and how we care for these things now and in the future.”
Matt Waddingham, Managing Director
Our environmental impact
It’s no secret that mobile cranes are notoriously unfriendly to the environment and contribute to the 26 million tonnes of CO₂ produced by road-going vehicles each year. With heavy-duty lifting equipment, reducing carbon output is challenging, but not impossible.
Immediate action is required to improve sustainability, reduce emissions, and work towards a greener future, and we’ve shown that practical steps can make a real impact.
Our switch to HVO biofuel has been instrumental in our emissions reductions. Combined with solar energy and smarter practices, it’s enabled us to reach Net Zero for our operational footprint 25 years ahead of government targets.
What is HVO biofuel and why is it important?
Calculations showed we were producing upwards of 645 tonnes of CO₂ annually, with 519 tonnes coming from red diesel use in our mobile crane fleet alone.
In 2021, we became the first UK mobile crane hire company to run our entire fleet on HVO, a hydro-treated vegetable oil biofuel that delivers up to 90% CO₂ reduction.
On an average round trip of 80 miles, we can now help customers save up to 340kg of carbon per visit, supporting their own sustainability goals.
We actively encourage others in the industry to follow our lead, because together, our impact can be huge. If you’re considering HVO for your fleet, we’d be more than happy to share insights from our journey.
We are committed to responsible HVO sourcing practices and supply chain transparency. Click here to read our full statement on HVO sustainability.
Planning for future generations
We know the journey to sustainability is never truly complete. That’s why we remain committed to continuous research, progress tracking, and collaborative improvement.
From offsetting emissions through responsible projects, such as supporting fuel-efficient cookstoves in Uganda via Ecologi, to donating solar panels to two local children’s hospices, we’re also passionate about giving back to the communities around us.
We regularly review our processes and work closely with suppliers to ensure shared environmental goals, because sustainability is a collective effort, and the most impactful changes happen together.
Milbank Group Pledge
Whilst we are part of a group of businesses that by their very existence are harmful to the environment, we believe that we can, under our custodianship, not only make a big difference to our impact but hopefully influence others to do the same.
We pledge to use the resources we have – our business, our voice, and our imaginations – to do something about it.
Our guiding principles will be:
- Reduce our environmental impact
- Balance decisions with understanding environmental and social impacts of our choices
- Collaborate with our customers, suppliers, competitors, and other key stakeholders to reduce their environmental impact
- Reduce health and safety risks
- Support our communities to survive and thrive
- Act with integrity by respecting people and human rights
- Report transparently and honestly
Speak to an expert
We’re here to help. For more information, to discuss a project or to hire a crane, contact us directly or request a free site survey.
