PISTOL® short-listed for Network Rail Environmental Sustainability Award 2009
Bayer is proud to announce that its herbicide PISTOL® was short-listed for the Network Rail Environmental Sustainability Award at the Network Rail Partnership Awards 2009.
Attending the presentation ceremony in Birmingham on the 14th July 2009 Paul Clifton, Head of Green Business UK and Ireland said "It was absolutely tremendous to hear that PISTOL®, our number one selling herbicide, was short-listed for the Network Rail Environmental Sustainability Award. PISTOL® has been used extensively on the UK rail track since it was launched in 2006 and has performed superbly, not only in controlling existing vegetation, but also preventing further germination of weeds, thus contributing to the cleanliness and safety of the tracks. In choosing PISTOL® for the rail tracks, Network Rail has achieved its target in reducing the amount of product per hectare without compromising on weed control - both Network Rail and our team are delighted with the results!"
The Network Rail Partnership Awards have been set up by Network Rail to reward and recognize excellence and best practice with the partners, suppliers and organizations that have worked with them. This year they had over 360 entries across 10 different categories. With an average of 5 entries being short-listed per category Network Rails Chief Executive Iain Coucher said "all our short-listed entrants should feel proud to have made it through such an impressive pool of entries"
The Environmental Sustainability Award is to reward organizations that have made sure that Environmental considerations have played an important part in their railway work. The company is focused on reducing the amount of chemical substances used on the network without compromising results. This was achieved through the development and use of PISTOL®.
Until recently Diuron was the standard residual herbicide used on railways. PISTOL® was introduced by Bayer as a replacement for Diuron with the benefit of having a lower rate of application and better environmental profile. "This was key for Network Rail" explains Dave Orchard, Sales Manager UK North & East and Rail, "the reduction in amount of product used has been very significant and being able to provide this at a reduced cost to both Network Rail, the operators and the environment is of great benefit to all parties involved. We have a long history in providing innovative solutions for vegetation management on Europe's railways and I am looking forward to continuing to develop future projects with Network Rail."
Bayer is committed to developing innovative products that focus on sustainability and fostering environmental stewardship. James Hadlow, Technical and Marketing Manager Professional Products North Europe says that "being recognized by one of our key partners such as Network Rail in the area of Environmental Sustainability further demonstrates that our focus on sustainable development through our "Protecting Tomorrow Today" strategy is working".
Image: Pictured left to right: James Hadlow (Bayer), Dave Orchard (Bayer), Jimmy Carr (Awards host), Paul Clifton (Bayer) Kenny Liddell (Bayer)