Rudd opens Linfox's 'green' headquarters

Prime minister Kevin Rudd officially opened Linfox's new $20m headquarters at Melbourne's Essendon Airport on Friday evening.

Linfox principal Lindsay Fox said the project highlighted the company's green credentials and complemented Linfox Logistics' industry leadership.

“Our Vision Zero safety program, drug and alcohol testing, pioneering parental leave policy and the Linfox College employee education centre are groundbreaking initiatives in our industry,” he said.

“This new building is designed to minimise power use and optimise water and waste recycling.

“Lighting is controlled by movement sensors and a massive rainwater tank system waters the garden and supplies bathrooms.

“These features complement our initiatives that are reducing fuel and power use in our transport and warehousing operations.”

Linfox chairman Peter Fox recounted a visit to the US, where he had been questioned by American executives about the company's carbon footprint, which had brought home to him the importance of environmental concerns.

“Our new head office's five star environmental rating is in line with the business's strategy to reduce its rate of carbon emissions by 15% by 2010,” he said.