The Marathon Group, comprising Marathon Coaches, Marathon Travel, Marathon Sports Travel, and Marathon Training & Events, is committed to operating responsibly, ethically, and sustainably. As an Irish-based provider of passenger transport and related services, we recognise the impact of our operations on the environment and society. We strive to minimise negative effects while promoting ethical and environmentally friendly practices across all aspects of our business.

 

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to:

• Actively reducing the environmental footprint of our operations and business activities.
• Promoting ethical practices throughout our supply chain and partnerships.
• Encouraging environmentally responsible choices among our employees, partners, and customers.

 

Key Objectives

Marathon Group will:

1. Monitor and Review Impact:
   Regularly assess our environmental performance and its impact, both positive and negative, to ensure continuous improvement.

2. Source Ethical Partners:
   Collaborate with suppliers, partners, and clients who share our commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
   Prioritise partnerships with organisations employing innovative techniques to reduce their environmental impact.
3. Embed Environmental Focus:
   Integrate environmental considerations into management processes and decision-making.
4. Support Sustainability Initiatives:
   Donate a portion of annual profits to environmentally aware and sustainable organisations or projects.
5. Promote Carbon Offsetting:
   Educate and encourage passengers to offset carbon emissions associated with their journeys.
6. Encourage Modal Shift:
   Advocate for a shift from car usage to coach services, emphasising the environmental benefits of reduced road congestion and emissions.
7. Exceed Standards:
   Comply with, and where feasible, exceed environmental legislation and industry best practices.
8. Conduct Ethical Assessments:
   Evaluate our business activities to ensure ethical operations and environmental sustainability at both national and global levels.
9. Facilitate External Audits:
   Work with independent organisations to audit and review our environmental and ethical performance, implementing continuous improvements based on findings.
10. Provide Resources and Training:
    Allocate sufficient resources to fulfil our commitments.
    Train and supervise staff to prioritise environmental and ethical considerations in their activities.
11. Promote Awareness:
    Communicate our environmental and ethical values to all stakeholders, including suppliers, partners, and customers.
12. Reduce Waste:
    Use recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible. Foster a culture of waste reduction within the organization.
13. Champion Diversity:
    Uphold policies of equal opportunity and diversity in recruitment and throughout the organisation.
14. Evaluate Partners:
    Review the environmental and ethical policies of potential partners to ensure alignment with our values before entering into agreements.

 

Road Congestion and Environmental Benefits

A fully loaded coach significantly reduces road congestion compared to the equivalent number of cars, improving traffic flow and reducing emissions.

Coaches benefit from using bus lanes, further alleviating congestion and enhancing fuel efficiency.

We maintain our fleet to the highest standards through our in-house team of mechanics at purpose-built facilities, ensuring optimal performance and minimal environmental impact.

Our drivers are trained to select eco-friendly routes, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while lowering costs for clients.

We collaborate with sub-contractors to ensure effective waste management practices and encourage recycling across all operations.

 

Governance and Review

The Marathon Group Management Team holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with this policy. We provide sufficient resources to meet our environmental and ethical objectives and conduct regular reviews to adapt to evolving legal requirements and organizational goals. This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect our commitment to sustainability and ethical excellence.