The new assessment model allows the WJ Group, a specialist road marking business that delivers across Highways England’s network of motorways and major A-roads, to measure:

• the embedded carbon in each ingredient of their road markings
• production energy consumption
• how carbon needed for the manufacture of road safety markings can be reduced.

The significant project allowed the company to reduce its product carbon footprint by 81 per cent in CO2 emissions and create a more durable road marking that requires less repairs, reducing the need for carbon even more.

Similarly, the project has allowed for a huge 90 per cent reduction in landfill waste via screening and recycling of aggregates contained within the sweepings captured during road marking removal operations.

Dean Kerwick-Chrisp, Highways England Principal Environmental Advisor, said: "How our roads and works impact the environment and communities is really important and this is just one example of how we challenge the supply chain to reduce our impact on the environment.

"This project shows how much can be achieved when companies strive to be better.

"The WJ Group have provided a comprehensive response to sustainability and embedded positive behaviour into their processes and workforce, which we were delighted to see.

"Along with their carbon reduction, they also have extensive training for staff, including leadership training, that is helping to shape their outlook on the environment and take positive steps forward."

With 217 road marking vehicles and more than 500 staff, WJ Group install in excess of 14.5 million metres of road markings every year for Highways England, meaning their Product Carbon Foot Print Model can lead to huge reductions of C02, with hope the industry will follow suit.

The Product Carbon Footprint Model netted WJ Group a Sustainabillity award in the third Highways England Awards earlier this year.

Paul Aldridge, WJ Group Sustainability Director, said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive this award and encouraged by this level of recognition for our work.

"Embedding sustainability into WJ is fundamental to us. We all chose our actions and they have consequences, so it’s important that those choices should have a positive environmental, social and economic impact."

WJ Group also collected a Safety Innovation award for their robotic premarking initiative.

These projects were among 30 winning initiatives, from within Highways England as well as its supply chain partners, recognising activities which further the company’s imperatives of safety, customer service and delivery. This year the award ceremony was held online.