Speaking after the event, with Margaret Major, Managing Editor for Fuel Oil News, Richard Garnett, Head of Sustainability at Certas Energy, expressed his sincere gratitude for the accolade.
Thanking UKIFDA, Richard shared how winning the award for a second-year running was important recognition of both Certas Energy’s sustained commitment and the collective efforts of their team.
It shows the momentum we’re building within the industry,” Richard says. “It’s not just about winning an award but about recognising the huge investment and hard work our teams put in daily.”
Alongside their second Green Award, Certas Energy driver Peter Stubbington also picked up the Best Driver award. “Winning the two awards reflects both our environmental and people-first approach,” Richard commented. “It was great to see that recognition for Peter – someone who is working day in and day out, doing their best in the industry.”
Driving achievements and overcoming challenges
For Certas Energy, sustainability is a much wider strategy than decarbonisation of liquid fuels. Driven by parent company DCC, it spans several interconnected initiatives, and it was this multi-faceted approach that saw Certas Energy win the award again this year.
A key focus has been the decarbonisation of its own operations. The company has heavily invested in infrastructure to support a growing fleet of vehicles running on the renewable drop-in diesel alternative, HVO. This includes both internal fleet deployment and the development of accessible infrastructure for customers.
Since adopting a 2019 emissions baseline, Certas Energy has achieved a 50% reduction in Scope 1 emissions by the end of the 2024/25 fiscal year. Richard attributes this success to strong leadership and collaboration across departments, particularly in transport and procurement.
The journey hasn’t been without hurdles. One major barrier was customer hesitancy due to capital costs for necessary infrastructure like storage tanks. In a prime example of its solutions-led approach to customer decarbonisation, Certas Energy addressed this by launching a tank hire scheme, helping customers access lower-carbon fuels without upfront investment.
Why sustainability matters
“For us, sustainability is about more than energy transition. It encompasses health and safety, environmental protection, social impact, and governance,” Richard explains. With support from parent company DCC, Certas Energy has broadened its sustainability agenda across four pillars: People, Environment, Compliance & Governance, and Energy Transition.
Decarbonisation holds particular significance for both Certas Energy and Richard personally. As the UK’s largest independent fuel distributor, Certas Energy sees a responsibility to lead by example and help shape the industry’s future. “We want to be a leader, a role model in the industry,” Richard explains. “With my role being sustainability, I’m passionate about the opportunity we have to make a difference.”
“We’ve just experienced one of the driest Mays on record. Over the past year, we’ve all seen the real impacts of climate change and people now realise something needs to be done. We have the opportunity to act, and we need to seize it,” Richard says.
This sense of urgency is matched by opportunity. Richard describes how Certas Energy can set industry standards and provide leadership on the journey to net zero. “It’s not just about what we can do internally, but how we help our customers, and the wider industry, get there.”
Education about the opportunity afforded by HVO is a significant element of Certas Energy’s customer decarbonisation strategy across transport and haulage, agriculture, construction and, of course, domestic heating. But it’s not all about liquid renewables.
“It’s about looking at our customers’ needs and reducing their energy demand or giving them access to the best cleaner energy source for them.”
This solution-neutral approach to decarbonisation is reflected in the company’s recent acquisitions, including a renewables business specialising in air source heat pumps and solar technologies. Certas Energy’s investment in Next Energy – a company that partners with social housing providers and government bodies to deliver renewable energy to disadvantaged communities – demonstrates a strong commitment to a just transition through the provision of affordable, sustainable solutions.
“We want to ensure everyone can participate in this transition, not just those with the means to do so,” says Richard. “That means making sustainability inclusive and accessible.”
A solutions-focused leader
Richard’s path to becoming Head of Sustainability is rooted in a strong operational and health and safety background. He began his career in the chemical industry before transitioning into health and safety roles, which included leadership positions at several respected organisations. He joined Certas Energy six years ago, initially as Head of Health and Safety in the lubricants division, bringing expertise in lubricant manufacture and energy management.
During this time, Richard played a pivotal role in early trials of HVO, working closely with the transport team to evaluate and scale their impact. His involvement in sustainability deepened as he worked across departments to identify energy reduction opportunities, and in 2024 he officially stepped into his current role.
Driven by a solutions-oriented mindset, Richard views sustainability not just as a responsibility but as a strategic opportunity. “It’s about giving people options, making changes possible, and showing them how they can make a difference,” he says. His pragmatic and collaborative approach ensures that sustainability is embedded not just in policy, but in day-to-day decisions across the business.
Driving down energy use
As part of its broader sustainability commitment, Certas Energy is not only reducing emissions through cleaner fuels but also systematically cutting its own energy consumption. This internal drive is structured around ISO 50001, the international standard for energy management systems, which provides the framework for ongoing energy efficiency improvements across operations.
“Energy reduction is a key part of our sustainability story,” Richard explains. “Being ISO 50001 accredited helps us stay focused on measurable actions that reduce consumption and drive smarter energy use across the business.”
Certas Energy has implemented a variety of targeted initiatives to meet this goal:
- Installation of solar panels at the Hollies truck stop and lubricant warehouses to generate clean, on-site energy.
- Upgrades to depot lighting with more energy-efficient systems.
- Improvements to depot insulation.
- Introduction of advanced routing software and real-time vehicle data systems to optimise delivery efficiency and fuel consumption.
“These measures may seem small individually, but together they have a significant cumulative effect,” Richard notes. “It’s not just about switching fuels – it’s about using less energy wherever we can.”
Decarbonising the liquid fuel industry
Reflecting on the broader industry, Richard acknowledges that while progress is visible, the pace varies. “Everyone’s on that net zero journey, but barriers like infrastructure and funding still exist,” he says.
Certas Energy is using its scale and expertise to find ways to overcome barriers with initiatives like the Tank Hire Scheme and driver training programmes, supporting smaller businesses and accelerating industry-wide decarbonisation. Partnerships with bodies such as the Zemo Partnership and UKIFDA, exemplify how Certas Energy is contributing to removing obstacles.
Understanding customer demand
Customer motivation for sustainable fuels varies. In commercial sectors such as construction and transport, demand is often driven by ESG pressures and supply chain expectations. Public sector tenders increasingly require demonstrable carbon reduction plans.
Conversely, domestic customers are less influenced by policy and more by personal priorities such as cost and efficiency. Nonetheless, Certas Energy sees growing interest in sustainable solutions like air source heat pumps and solar energy.
Certas Energy supports customers through education and tailored solutions. Its sales and sustainability teams provide insights on fuel options, emissions impact, and certification standards like ISCC. This ensures that every customer, regardless of size or sector, can make informed decisions.
A listening approach
For Richard, collaboration is critical. “We want to be a partner, not just a supplier,” he emphasises. Successful decarbonisation depends on shared knowledge and collective effort.
Richard’s solutions-led approach comes through in the way he works with customers to accelerate transition opportunities: “We really listen to the journey they are on.”
- What does it mean to them and how can we support them?
- How can we fill in knowledge gaps?
- What solutions can we provide them with?
- What are the barriers for them?
Some of the drive to decarbonise is being driven by their customers’ customers Richard acknowledges. “Their customers are looking for the carbon in their supply chain, and we need to be the ‘one stop shop’ for their decarbonisation solutions – whether that is renewable fuels or solar panels on their offices.”
The ‘one stop shop’ strategy Richard mentions reflects parent company DCC’s renewed focus on all things energy as it divests of its healthcare and technology divisions.
“The industry needs a leader,” says Richard. “The DCC journey shows our commitment – to shareholders, to industry, to customers – to work with our customers on their decarbonisation journeys and to impact the wider communities – exciting times!”
Policy and the path ahead
Asked about policy direction, Richard is clear: “Sustainable liquid fuels are part of the net zero solution and offer immediate impact in many settings.”
He also emphasises the need for government to understand the complementary roles of all technologies. Certas Energy wants policy that balances ambition with pragmatism – supporting all decarbonisation solutions and recognising the ongoing role for renewable liquid fuels.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, Certas Energy plans to continue investing in both its own decarbonisation and customer-focused solutions. This includes expanding HVO infrastructure, adopting new energy management systems and upgrading vehicle data collection technology for improved fuel efficiency.
“We’re starting to write our next sustainability report,” says Richard. “With the amount we are achieving across all our pillars, our challenge now is not what to include, but how to condense it all.”
Asked where Certas Energy will be in five years, Richard has no hesitation “A market leader in sustainable energy solutions.” But it’s an ambition driven not by pride but by a passion for solutions. “It’s about giving our customers choice – the ability to do what they do now, but more sustainably.”
A message to the industry
Richard is clearly excited by the inherent opportunity in doing the right thing and believes there is a genuine desire from the broader industry to whom his message is simple: talk to us. “We’re open to sharing, educating, and collaborating. We all have a role in reaching net zero, and we’re stronger together.”
His final reflection encapsulates Certas Energy’s philosophy: “It’s not just a necessity. There’s real opportunity in doing the right thing. And that’s what drives us.”
Image credit: Certas Energy
