Porterbrook, the rolling stock asset management company, has recorded an improved performance on the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).

GRESB is an internationally recognised global benchmarking tool used to assess and compare the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of real estate and infrastructure organisations.

This year, Porterbrook improved its GRESB ranking from three to five stars beating its peer average. This is the fourth year that Porterbrook has participated in the annual GRESB assessment.

The GRESB assessment considers a company’s ESG performance across a range of competency areas, including how well ESG issues are integrated within the company’s management policy, and what actions the company is taking to reduce its environmental impact.

According to the GRESB, Porterbrook stood out in three key aspects, where it scored more than 80/100: management, stakeholder engagement, and policy & disclosure. This reflects Porterbrook’s efforts to develop clearly defined ESG policies and reporting practices, and also implement a broad stakeholder engagement programme, which included outreach to customers, suppliers, and special interest groups. In 2018, for example, Porterbrook held its first annual Supplier Conference attended by more than 100 companies from across the rail industry supply chain.

Porterbrook has also played a leading role in developing new technologies help make train travel more environmentally sustainable, particularly by supporting the shift away from diesel-powered traction and therefore reduce carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions. Notably in 2018, Porterbrook began its collaboration with the University of Birmingham to develop Britain’s first hydrogen powered train, HydroFLEX, which was recently granted approval for mainline testing.

Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said: “Sustainability is one of our core values at Porterbrook, so I am very pleased to see our efforts being recognised by the rigorous assessment carried out by GRESB. We will seek to build on this year’s strong GRESB score and continue to embed ESG considerations within all our activities and decision-making.”