Environmental sustainability

At Murphy, we are committed to protecting the environment and the community. 

We take a holistic approach to sustainability and social responsibility. We strive to build more resilient infrastructure and more durable, low-carbon assets. By working with our supply chain and clients, we are minimising landfill waste, material and water use, while increasing recycling opportunities and trialling new products with high-recycled content. 

We recognise that protection of the environment is integral to our business. We are committed to undertaking works in an environmentally responsible manner. Our 2026 Sustainability Strategy sets a clear, five year plan to reduce on-site risks, improve our impact on climate change and reduce operational emissions. 

Our Environmental Management System is ISO 14001:2015 certified and or policy statement is available for download. 

OUR 2026 SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Focused into two main areas addressing Climate Action and Social Value, it gives us a clear path towards being Net Zero by 2030 and a focus to leave a positive legacy on the communities where we work.

CLIMATE ACTION

We are committed to working towards being a ‘greener Murphy’. Everything we do has an impact on the environment where we work. From reducing our emissions to minimising the waste we send to landfill; and from investing in our green fleet to educating the engineers of tomorrow. By 2026 we have committed to:  

Over the last few years we have made great progress on our climate action. This included: 

ROCHDALE AGI - CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER
In May 2020 the Rochdale 4 AGI (Above Ground Installations) project found there was more contaminated groundwater than initially thought. In the past this type of water had to be removed offsite by a tanker for disposal at a licenced waste disposal facility. Our project team found a better solution using a fully bunded filtration system supplied by Hydrotec that completely eliminated the need for any contaminated water to be removed from site as waste. The system cleans the water and we were able to discharge this to sewer works meaning that 5,422 tonnes of waste was avoided (5,421,997 litres). 
Key benefits
  • Waste avoided and reused 
  • Water savings 
  • Cost saving

HARBURY - TIPPING UP ON TOP SOIL
We completed major works to stabilise a 24,000m2 railway cutting at Harbury, Warwickshire. The works included removing 120,000 tonnes of spoil to accommodate the reprofiling of the railway cutting. We collaborated with Ecofficiency, a waste broker, to give the soil to Bishop Bowl Fishery who were 1.9 miles away from Harbury Cutting. Bishops Bowl Fishery imports inert/soil materials as a mechanism to create a series of relatively shallow water bodies to enhance areas of higher ecological value. For example in larger lakes, a series of “offshore” sunken islands provide shallow habitat for wading birds, and nursery fish.
It took over four months and 6,000 lorry movements to move the spoil from Harbury Cutting to Bishop Bowl Fishery. The alternative option was a waste facility in the centre of the Coventry area, 24 miles away from Harbury Cutting. This saved an estimated 279.844kg CO2 based on the mileage difference between Bishops Bowl Fishery and the traditional route Murphy would have had to take. 
Key benefits:
  • Reuse of 120,000t of spoil
  • Co2 savings
  • Net Gains in Biodiversity
  • Reduced travel times

  • 0

    reduction in carbon emission intensity to date

  • 0

    Year waste reduction strategy in place

  • 0

    Of waste diverted from landfill

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SOCIAL VALUE

We will strive to deliver a positive and lasting legacy in the communities where we work. For Murphy, this is about doing more than just safely delivering the work we are contracted to deliver. It’s everything from supporting local businesses to volunteering with community groups; from renovating local green spaces to mentoring long term unemployed and creating a great and safe place to work while attracting more people from traditionally excluded groups. We commit to do what we can to support healthy communities.

At Murphy we pride ourselves on our family values and this extends to our local communities. In 2020 we: 

  • launched a new charity partnership with CALM to support mental health
  • donated £100,000 to local charities and groups through our Christmas Community fund 
  • were one of the few businesses in our sector to continue to recruit apprentices and graduates 
  • created 52 placement roles as part of the UK government's Kickstart Scheme, going one step further to offer them permanent positions after 6 months
  • partnered with Hey Girls! to provide period packs on sites that also help towards ending period poverty in the UK. 
  • many of our employees have taken advantage of the Giving Back Days policy to volunteer locally
  • Our SHES team volunteering at The Mersey Forest, trimming back some of the Goat Willow and preparing habitat piles ready for small mammals and critters to enjoy over the winter.
    Our SHES team volunteering at The Mersey Forest, trimming back some of the Goat Willow and preparing habitat piles ready for small mammals and critters to enjoy over the winter.
  • Our Procurement team taking part in the Great British Beach Clean.. Over 400 items were collected from Crosby beach and recorded to the MSCUK.
    Our Procurement team taking part in the Great British Beach Clean.. Over 400 items were collected from Crosby beach and recorded to the MSCUK.
  • Ready to plant trees at the Murphy Forest.
    Ready to plant trees at the Murphy Forest.
  • Trefor delivered 330 creativity packs to children in the community.
    Trefor delivered 330 creativity packs to children in the community.
  • The Huddersfield team raised £810 for the staff at their local NHS Trust.
    The Huddersfield team raised £810 for the staff at their local NHS Trust.

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