The fleet recognition scheme ECO Stars is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, marking the occasion with special awards to its first and latest members.

The free scheme, established in South Yorkshire in 2009, has grown to 11 schemes in the UK with a further six in Europe with almost 300 members in the UK. It encourages fleet operators of all sizes to improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and emissions to help improve local transport related air quality.

Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis and Councillor Roy Miller (Cabinet Spokesperson for Development, Environment & Culture for Barnsley Council) helped mark the occasion by presenting special awards to the first ECO Stars member, Clipper Logistics and the latest – and 75^th member in South Yorkshire, Airmaster.

Airmaster Director Lisa Pogson said, “We are very committed to boosting our business performance as well as lowering our carbon emissions and impact on the local environment.  ECO Stars has been invaluable to this process. We’ve learnt a lot already, and are extremely proud to become the 75th member of the scheme in South Yorkshire”.

Nigel Hinds, Clipper Logistics Operations Director said, “We are extremely proud to have been the first member to join ECO Stars in 2009. As a business we are conscious of our environmental impacts and strive to be as green as possible. Through this scheme we have been able to put in place best practice measures which will continue to reduce the impact we have on local air quality.”

MP Dan Jarvis said, “ECO Stars is a brilliant example of the public and private sector working together to bring about genuine and sustained improvements in both working practices and the environment.”

Cllr Roy Miller, said: “The ECO Stars scheme has been a huge success in encouraging business to manage their fleets more efficiently and more effectively whilst helping to improve the air we breathe in the local area. This is serious work, and it shows the great things that can be achieved through genuine partnership. ”

Ann Beddoes National ECO Stars Scheme Manager, said: “I’m delighted to be celebrating the ECO Stars fifth anniversary. With schemes spread as far and wide as Dundee and Thurrock, the scheme continues to grow and develop and we look forward to celebrating further successes in the future.”

ECO stars schemes across the UK are marking their own success, among them, Nottingham ECO Stars which has just signed up its 3000^th vehicle from Nottingham City Council, just 10 months after officially launching.

The scheme is free to sign up to. For more information call the ECO Stars Team on 01543 416416, email ecostars@ttr-ltd.com.