Astley Hire becomes first UK hire firm with ISO 14068-1 carbon neutrality accreditation

Astley Hire, a Wigan borough equipment hire company, has become the first in its sector in the UK to receive ISO 14068-1 accreditation for carbon neutrality. The standard, awarded by National Quality Assurance, replaces the PAS2060 certification the firm held for five years. Astley Hire reduced emissions by 24% over the past 12 months and has been tracking its carbon footprint for eight years to build an effective reduction plan. The ISO 14068-1 standard requires that carbon neutrality claims are true, fair, scientifically valid, and transparent. For a hire company with a fleet of vehicles and equipment, this likely means shifting to electric or low-emission machinery and optimizing operations. The article does not detail specific measures, but the accreditation signals that the firm's plan passed an external audit. This is a concrete example of a traditional industrial business adopting measurable decarbonization steps.